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Energy Purchasing Cooperative

In 2004, the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce began an electricity cooperative purchasing program to provide long-term savings to our Chamber member companies. Participating businesses have saved an average of 12 to 18 percent each year.

In fall 2009, the program expanded to include electricity and natural gas purchasing, and is now available to commercial and residential customers. Chamber member companies and all of their employees are eligible to participate.

We are currently accepting new and renewal commercial applications for a Spring 2010 contract. Residential contracts are offered on a continuing basis.

Commercial and residential customers can learn more about saving money on electricity and natural gas supply services by participating in an informational webinar. All webinars are scheduled for 12 noon to 1 p.m. and may be accessed from a home or office computer with an internet connection. Instructions will be provided. For a full list of upcoming webinars, visit CQIassociates.com.

NEW Commercial Customers: Click here to apply

RENEWING Commercial Customers: Click here to apply

NEW Residential Customers: Click here to apply

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about our NEW Residential Co-op:

What makes this purchasing cooperative preferable to anything else available?

The Maryland Residential Energy Purchasing Cooperative, the first and largest of its kind, was formed with the express purpose of providing consumers savings, budget stability, and choice.

What is the benefit of joining a co-op, rather than going directly to a third-party supplier?

Every time a new member joins the Maryland Residential Energy Purchasing Cooperative, consumer purchasing power increases and we (as individuals and as a group) have the opportunity to purchase electricity and natural gas as more affordable, consistent rates, at prices that are lower than what is available to individual residents.

What happens if we lose power? Who do we call?

That doesn't change. Allegheny Power (or in some areas, BGE) will remain your local distributor. You receive the same service at a better price.

Who are CQI Associates?

CQI is a Maryland-based, licensed and bonded energy management and procurement firm that has been working with commercial and residential customers nationwide for more than 15 years. CQI has developed this special program so Chambers can provide value-added benefits for their members.

How do I sign up?

Click here to apply. There is no application fee for residential customers.

Additional Information about the Frederick Chamber’s Energy Cooperative Programs

Deregulation legislation in Maryland allows customers to purchase electricity and natural gas supply services on a contract basis from a licensed supplier. Regardless of whether customers continue to purchase energy under the “standard offer service” from their current utility or purchase from an alternative licensed supplier, the utility will continue to deliver that energy service to the customer’s home or business.

Energy cooperatives pool the buying power of customers to procure energy at the best available competitive market price. The program also saves individual participants the time and expense of trying to choose a supplier on their own. This value-added service is available exclusively to Chamber member companies and their employees.

Participation in the cooperative requires continuous membership in the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce during the full term of the agreement. Submission of the application for participation in the cooperative does not include fees for Chamber membership. If your membership is not current, your application for participation in the cooperative will not be processed.

Application fees for new commercial customers are $150.00 per location. At online checkout use Promo Code CRD100 for renewing commercial cooperative members. (The web site will indicate that $250.00 is due at checkout, but the promo code will take $100.00 off of the price, resulting in a renewal fee of $150.00.)

Application fees pay the administrative costs of the energy purchasing cooperative and cover the cost of selecting a licensed energy supplier that will offer to sell the electricity or natural gas at a lower price than the utility Standard Offer Service Rate offered by the local utility company. Application fees are not refundable.