Baltimore and Maryland residents are in for a real jolt in their electricity rates this year. The average Baltimore Gas and Electric customor will watch their electricity bills increase by $743—a 72 percent hike on current rates.

As reported in the Baltimore Sun, this will be one of the biggest one-year price hikes in the nation.

In July, legislated "rate caps" expire that had kept electricity prices frozen for six years, saving BGE customers more than $1 billion over what they might otherwise have paid.

Deregulation ain't cheap...but it sure can be profitable.