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The standard price, in plain words

Updated October 12, 2026

In short

If you never picked a company, you pay your utility's own price for energy. We call it the standard price. It is the price to beat: a plan only saves you money if it costs less.

What the standard price is

It is your utility's own price for electricity or gas. You pay it if you never picked another company. There is no contract to sign, and you can leave any time.

Each state gives it a different name. Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey call it the Price to Compare. Massachusetts says Basic Service. Maine says Standard Offer. Michigan gas bills say Gas Cost Recovery.

When it changes

Electric standard prices change on set days, often once or twice a year. Gas standard prices often follow the market price of gas, so many change every month.

Judy keeps a list of the days each price changes. See price change dates

How to use it

  • Find the standard price on your bill, or on your state's page on Judy Saves.
  • Look at a plan's price per kWh or per unit of gas.
  • Add the plan's fees.
  • If the plan costs more, keep the standard price.

Judy does these steps for you, at the amount you use.

Going back to the standard price

You can go back to your utility's own price. In most states you call your utility and ask for it by name. Your state's help page gives the words to say.

If your contract with another company isn't over, that company may charge a fee to leave early. In Michigan, once you go back to the GCR, you stay on it for 12 months.

States with no standard price

In most of Texas, and in Georgia where Atlanta Gas Light brings the gas, there is no standard price to go back to. Everyone picks a company. There, Judy compares your plan with the best plans for your use.

Each state's name for it

Below, each name has its own short answer and links to the prices in each state.

More on this topic

Each state's name for it (11)

Price to Compare

Your utility's own price for power, or for gas in some places. You pay it if you never picked another company. A plan only saves you money if its price is lower. More about this word

Standard Offer Service (SOS)

The name for your electric company's own price in Maryland and Washington, DC. You pay it if you never picked another company. More about this word

Basic Service

Massachusetts' name for your electric company's own price. You pay it if you never picked another company. It changes twice a year, on February 1 and August 1. More about this word

Standard Service

Connecticut's name for Eversource's or UI's own price for power. You pay it if you never picked another company. It changes on January 1 and July 1. More about this word

Default Service

The power price you pay in New Hampshire if you never picked another company. Eversource, Liberty and Unitil change it on February 1 and August 1. Pennsylvania utilities use the same words for their own price. More about this word

Last Resort Service

Rhode Island's name for Rhode Island Energy's own price for power. You pay it if you never picked another company. It changes on April 1 and October 1. More about this word

Standard Offer

Maine's name for the price you pay if you never picked another company. The Maine PUC picks it each year, and it changes on January 1. Rhode Island Energy also uses this name for Last Resort Service. More about this word

Basic Generation Service (BGS) and BGSS

New Jersey's name for the power your utility buys for you if you never picked another company. The utilities buy it at one statewide auction each February. Your bill calls its price the Price to Compare. More about this word

Your utility's supply price (New York)

New York's name for a company that sells you power or gas. Your utility, like Con Edison or National Grid, still delivers it and sends your bill. New York has no Price to Compare: your utility's own supply price is the one to beat. More about this word

Gas Cost Recovery (GCR)

Michigan's name for your gas company's own price for gas. You pay it if you never picked another company. The state approves it, the gas company makes no profit on it, and it can change every month. More about this word

Standard Choice Offer (SCO)

Ohio's name for your gas company's own price. It follows the market price of gas, so it changes every month. Duke Energy calls it the Standard Service Offer. More about this word

Our guides on this (8)
Videos (1)
  • What Is the "Price to Compare" on Your Electric Bill?

    Say a letter in your mailbox offers you electricity at 9 cents a kilowatt hour. By the end of this video, you'll know where to find the Price to Compare on your bill. You'll also know how to hold any offer up against it, dollar to dollar, before you say yes.

Studies (4)
Prices and tools on Judy Saves (3)
Trusted help outside Judy Saves (3)