Repeal of STRIDE prompts clash over safety, rates and pace of pipe replacement Delegate Dylan Baylor's HB 12-53 would repeal Maryland's STRIDE accelerated cost-recovery for gas-infrastructure replacement. Consumer advocates and cities urged repeal citing rising delivery rates; utilities, PHMSA officials and unions warned repeal would slow removal of leak-prone materials and reduce safety.

Delegate Dylan Baylor's push to repeal the STRIDE program is igniting a fierce debate over rising utility rates and public safety in Maryland.

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#MD #EnergyPolicy #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #MarylandUtilities #InfrastructureSafety

Wide debate as bill would let PSC require utilities to build clean generation to shore up supply HB 15-61 would allow the PSC to require regulated utilities to develop and own short-lead-time clean resources (community solar, battery storage) where the market fails to deliver capacity; sponsors, utilities and unions supported the backstop, while competitive developers and consumer advocates opposed the shift of construction risk to ratepayers.

A bold new bill in Maryland could empower utilities to build clean energy resources when the market falls short, but not everyone agrees on the potential costs to consumers.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #CommunitySolar #CleanEnergy #MarylandUtilities #MarketStability

Mount Airy adopts multi-year water and sewer rate increases after heated debate After extended debate over reserve targets and an automatic inflation adjustment, the Mount Airy Town Council adopted ordinance 2026-3 raising water and sewer rates in a tiered multi-year plan and adopted a companion resolution setting a $4.2 million reserve target.

Mount Airy Town Council has just approved a controversial multi-year plan to raise water and sewer rates, sparking heated debates over financial management and infrastructure needs.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #InfrastructureFunding #WaterSustainability #MarylandUtilities

Committee hears bill to study Maryland's participation in PJM and alternatives after runaway capacity auction prices Senate Bill 92 would require studies by the PSC and MEA into Maryland's role in PJM, alternate procurement approaches and multistate coordination after large capacity‑auction price spikes; consumer advocates and the People's Counsel supported the study, citing market failures and queue problems.

Senator Shelley Hettleman calls for crucial studies on Maryland's energy procurement after alarming price spikes in the PJM capacity auction, sparking a debate on alternative strategies.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #MarketStability #EnergyProcurement #ConsumerAdvocacy

Bill would require PSC annual rate reports and customer notice before rate cases, staff say At an Environment and Transportation Committee energy subcommittee briefing on Feb. 17, staff explained HB 540 would require the Public Service Commission to publish annual rate reports and require investor‑owned utilities to notify customers before initiating proceedings that may lead to rate changes; no vote was taken.

A new bill could revolutionize how Maryland utilities communicate rate changes, ensuring transparency for all customers starting in 2028!

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#MD #EnergyTransparency #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #PublicService #MarylandUtilities

House passes HB 1 limiting utility cost recovery for some executive pay after heated debate The Maryland House passed HB 1 on Feb. 5, 2026, 97–30, a bill that bars investor-owned utilities from passing specified executive compensation and related costs onto ratepayers. Lawmakers clashed over whether the Public Service Commission already has the authority and whether the bill will produce meaningful savings for households.

Maryland's House just passed a bold bill aiming to stop electric utilities from charging customers for executive perks, igniting a heated debate about accountability and cost savings!

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#MD #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #CostSavings #PublicUtilityReform #MarylandUtilities

House adopts amendments to utility cost‑recovery bill; special‑orders HB 1 for consideration The House adopted committee amendments to a bill limiting investor‑owned utilities' cost recovery for certain compensation and ordered House Bill 1 as a special order for the next day after floor clarification and questions about expected rate impacts.

The House just took a significant step to limit how much utility companies can charge you for high compensation costs, but what does it mean for your bills?

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#MD #EnergyPolicy #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #CorporateAccountability #MarylandUtilities

Committee approves limit on ratepayer recovery of utility supervisor pay in HB 1 The Environment and Transportation Committee passed House Bill 1, barring investor‑owned utilities from recovering through customer rates supervisor compensation exceeding 110% of the Public Service Commission chair’s salary; committee amendments narrowed and clarified applicability and the bill’s effective date was moved up to June 1.

Maryland's Environment and Transportation Committee just passed a groundbreaking bill to protect ratepayers by capping utility executive pay recovery—could this change the game for consumers?

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#MD #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #MarylandUtilities

Subcommittee advances bill barring ratepayer reimbursement of excessive utility supervisor pay An energy subcommittee approved amendments to House Bill 1 on Jan. 29, 2026, to bar investor-owned electric and gas utilities from recovering supervisor compensation above 110% of the Public Service Commission chair's salary; the panel voted to move the bill forward as amended.

Maryland's energy subcommittee just took a bold step to protect consumers by capping utility supervisor pay recoverable through rates!

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#MD #PublicAccountability #EnergyRegulation #MarylandUtilities #CitizenPortal #CompensationLimits

DoIT previews revenue-sharing bill, outlines priorities to Budget and Taxation Committee DoIT Secretary Katie Savage told the Budget and Taxation Committee that a bill to expand state authority over revenue-sharing agreements with utilities will be introduced the next day and outlined DoIT’s priorities: build agency technical capacity, centralize services, and deliver user-centered digital services.

DoIT Secretary Katie Savage is set to unveil a game-changing bill that could revolutionize revenue-sharing agreements with utilities, paving the way for major infrastructure investments in Maryland!

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#MD #InfrastructureInvestment #MarylandUtilities #CitizenPortal

Gas utilities emphasize infrastructure replacement, affordability programs and choice as electrification pressures rise Washington Gas and BGE told the committee they have proactively replaced leak-prone gas mains, cited large reductions in leaks and emissions, and urged that policy balance affordability, safety and customer choice as electrification and gas-line-extension rules evolve.

Maryland gas utilities are making strides in reducing leaks and emissions, but they warn that the push for electrification could impact affordability and safety for consumers.

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#MD #EnergyAffordability #InfrastructureSafety #MarylandUtilities #CitizenPortal

Utilities warn of PJM-region supply squeeze, urge ‘all-of-the-above’ response including transmission, storage and targeted generation Presenters to the House Environment and Transportation Committee said recent spikes in capacity prices and a wave of generator retirements have raised supply risks in Maryland and the PJM region, driving higher bills. Utilities and generators urged faster transmission upgrades, more storage and clearer rules for regulated utility participation.

Maryland is facing a critical energy supply crisis that’s driving skyrocketing bills—learn how utilities are urging immediate action to tackle this pressing issue.

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#MD #MarketVolatility #EnergySupply #InfrastructureInvestment #MarylandUtilities #CitizenPortal

PSC authorizes Chesapeake Utilities to track $4.3M of ERP-related costs as a regulatory asset; requires annual reports and allocation analysis The commission authorized Chesapeake Utilities of Maryland to establish a regulatory asset to track noncapitalizable costs for a new ERP system, noting an estimated $122 million total project and about $4.3 million in noncapitalizable costs (approximately $249,000 allocable to Maryland). The order requires Chesapeake to provide its Distrigas/Distrg

Chesapeake Utilities just got the green light to track $4.3 million in ERP-related costs, but what does this mean for Maryland customers?

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #CostTracking #RegulatoryAccountability #PublicService

Maryland PSC staff recommends accepting 2025–26 SOS bid results; utilities warn residential bills to rise Staff and the commission’s consultant recommended accepting the first day of results from the 2025–26 Standard Offer Service RFP and reported estimated residential bill increases across Potomac Edison, Pepco, Delmarva and BGE driven largely by capacity costs in the PJM market.

Maryland residents brace for rising electric bills as the Public Service Commission recommends accepting new bid results, with some households facing increases of up to $122 annually!

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#MD #ResidentialBilling #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #PublicUtilityRegulation #EnergyCosts

Utilities Questioned on Electric Vehicle Charging Reliability and Vendor Dependence Commissioners criticize utilities for relying on vendors and failing to ensure charging reliability.

Maryland's Public Service Commission is raising crucial questions about the reliability of electric vehicle charging and the growing dependence on vendors—are utilities prepared for the future?

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #UtilityReliability #ElectricVehicles

BGE Seeks Cost Recovery Approval to Advance DRIVE Act Programs BGE proposes regulatory asset for cost recovery to implement DRIVE Act initiatives.

BGE is pushing for crucial cost recovery approval that could revolutionize grid reliability and customer service in Maryland—will they get the green light?

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #GridReliability #CustomerService #DataManagement

Commissioner Sutching raises concerns over failed boiler system's reliability at recent meeting Commissioner Sutching highlights systemic issues after catastrophic boiler failure following tests.

A recent catastrophic boiler failure in Maryland has raised urgent questions about the reliability of public utilities and the adequacy of testing protocols.

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#MD #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #InfrastructureReliability #PublicSafety #RegulatoryReform

Delmarva Power and Pepco Announce Budget Reductions for 2025 and 2026 Delmarva Power and Pepco report significant budget cuts for 2025 and 2026 capital expenditures.

Delmarva Power and Pepco are slashing budgets for the next two years while striving to enhance reliability and safety for their customers.

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#MD #InfrastructureInvestment #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities #CostManagement #ReliabilityImprovement

Delmarva Power and Pepco Defend Vegetation Management Strategies Against OPC Criticism Delmarva Power and Pepco assert effective vegetation management doesn't eliminate all outage causes.

Delmarva Power and Pepco are defending their vegetation management strategies amid claims from the Office of People’s Counsel that more aggressive measures are needed to prevent outages in Maryland.

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#MD #InfrastructureInvestment #CitizenPortal #MarylandUtilities

Maryland bill mandates utility lobbying transparency to protect ratepayers New legislation requires Maryland utilities to disclose lobbying costs not benefiting ratepayers.

A new Maryland bill could revolutionize how public utilities operate by mandating transparency in lobbying costs that don't benefit ratepayers.

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#MD #PublicUtilities #TransparencyAccountability #ConsumerProtection #MarylandUtilities #CitizenPortal

Maryland PSC reviews utility termination policies amid rising customer costs Maryland PSC assesses utility billing practices to protect consumers during summer heat waves.

As Maryland faces rising utility costs and challenges in hiring skilled workers, the PSC is stepping up to protect consumers during extreme summer heat.

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#MD #PublicService #ConsumerProtection #MarylandUtilities #JobMarketIssues #CitizenPortal