Environment and Public Utilities - Notice to Neighboring Jurisdictions of Applications [HB-554]
Requiring the Department of the Environment, on receipt of a specified permit application, to give notice immediately or require the applicant to give notice immediately by certified mail to specified counties and municipal corporations and to specified members of the General Assembly; requiring an applicant for a specified incinerator or landfill system to give notice of the application, informational meeting, and hearings to specified counties and municipal corporations and to members of the General Assembly; etc.
HB-554: Environment and Public Utilities - Notice to Neighboring Jurisdictions of Applications
Sponsored by: Rep. Tony McConkey
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 501 on 05/16/2013
Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program - Funding Extension [HB-385]
Repealing the limitations on the requirement to provide specified funding in specified fiscal years to the Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program for specified purposes from the Environmental Trust Fund; requiring specified funding for the Corps Program each fiscal year; and extending to fiscal year 2020 the termination date of a surcharge on electrical energy distributed to retail electric customers in the State.
HB-385: Chesapeake Conservation Corps Program - Funding Extension
Sponsored by: Sen. Craig Zucker
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 435 on 05/16/2013
Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 [HB-226]
Altering the Maryland renewable energy portfolio standard program to include a specified amount of energy derived from offshore wind energy; prohibiting the portion of the renewable energy portfolio that represents offshore wind energy from applying to retail electricity sales by a supplier in excess of specified limits; defining "offshore wind renewable energy credit"; establishing an application process for proposed offshore wind energy projects; establishing the Clean Energy Technical Education Program Task Force; etc.
HB-226: Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan Lee
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 3 on 04/09/2013
Public Service Commission - Disparity Study - Contracts and Subcontracts [HB-1509]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to contract with an independent consultant to complete a specified disparity study; requiring the Commission to submit the results of the study to specified entities on or before December 31, 2013; and terminating the Act at the end of June 30, 2014.
HB-1509: Public Service Commission - Disparity Study - Contracts and Subcontracts
Sponsored by: Rep. Heather Mizeur
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 03/04/2013
Public Utilities - Geothermal Heating and Cooling On-Bill Financing - Pilot Program [HB-1428]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to establish, in consultation with the Maryland Energy Administration, a pilot program for geothermal heating and cooling on-bill financing; establishing the purpose of the program; requiring the Commission and the Administration to make specified determinations in designing the program; requiring the Commission to convene a specified technical workgroup to monitor the program and make specified recommendations; etc.
HB-1428: Public Utilities - Geothermal Heating and Cooling On-Bill Financing - Pilot Program
Sponsored by: Rep. Tom Hucker
Rereferred To Economic Matters on 03/20/2013
Public Utilities - Telephone Service - Charges for Directory Assistance [HB-124]
Providing that specified residential customers are entitled to only a specified number of directory assistance calls each month without charge; requiring the Public Service Commission to approve other charges for directory assistance, subject to an exception; and repealing a provision that authorizes the Commission to establish additional exemptions from directory assistance charges.
HB-124: Public Utilities - Telephone Service - Charges for Directory Assistance
Sponsored by: Rep. Dereck Davis
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 186 on 05/02/2013
Utility Companies - Removal of Lines from Utility Poles [HB-1238]
Requiring specified electric companies and telephone companies to coordinate with specified companies the timing of the removal of specified lines so that specified lines are removed within a specified period of time; authorizing the Public Service Commission to adopt specified regulations or issue specified orders; etc.
HB-1238: Utility Companies - Removal of Lines from Utility Poles
Sponsored by: Rep. Tom Hucker
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters Withdrawn on 03/19/2013
Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Emergency Response Planning [HB-1224]
Requiring the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), in consultation with specified persons, to establish emergency response standards for specified gas transmission companies; requiring a gas transmission company to submit to MEMA an emergency response plan that meets specified minimum federal standards; requiring MEMA to review the emergency response plan of a gas transmission company and to require amendments or updates as needed to protect public safety; etc.
HB-1224: Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Emergency Response Planning
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 04/05/2013
Public Utilities - Solar Photovoltaic Systems [HB-1187]
Requiring a person to file a specified application for approval to construct a specified generating station at least a specified time before construction commences; requiring a person who constructs a specified generating station to pay a specified deposit to the Public Service Commission; etc.
HB-1187: Public Utilities - Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Sponsored by: Rep. Tom Hucker
First Reading Senate Rules on 04/08/2013
Street Lighting - Purchase of Equipment by Local Government and Tariffs [HB-1177]
Requiring a local government to pay a specified electric company the fair market value of specified street lighting equipment as determined by an agreement between the local government and the electric company or as determined in a condemnation proceeding under specified circumstances; authorizing a local government to include all street lighting equipment that the local government seeks to acquire in its jurisdiction owned by one electric company in a single petition of condemnation under specified circumstances; etc.
HB-1177: Street Lighting - Purchase of Equipment by Local Government and Tariffs
Sponsored by: Rep. Alfred Carr
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/12/2013
Small Business Energy Assistance Act [HB-1173]
Authorizing the Public Service Commission to establish a Small Commercial Energy Efficiency On-Bill Financing Program; specifying the purpose of the Program; authorizing the Commission to require a utility company to participate in the Program; authorizing customers to obtain a loan for an energy efficiency upgrade under specified circumstances; requiring the Commission to establish standards for a qualifying energy efficiency upgrade and eligibility requirements for customers; etc.
HB-1173: Small Business Energy Assistance Act
Sponsored by: Sen. Guy Guzzone
Third Reading Passed (98-40) on 04/04/2013
Electric Companies - Service Restoration - Special Medical Needs Facilities [HB-1159]
Altering a requirement that the Public Service Commission, on or before September 1 of each year, determine whether specified electric companies have met specified service quality and reliability standards; requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish and distribute to each electric company a list of specified special medical needs facilities, including the licensed capacity of each facility, by January 1 of each year and post the list on the Department's Web site; etc.
HB-1159: Electric Companies - Service Restoration - Special Medical Needs Facilities
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathleen Dumais
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 670 on 05/16/2013
Electric Reliability - Priorities and Funding [HB-1152]
Requiring the Public Service Commission and specified electric companies to establish priorities for remediation projects; establishing an Electric Reliability Remediation Fund in the Commission; providing for the purpose, administration, investment, sources, and permissible uses of the Fund; requiring specified electric companies to maintain the reliability of their distribution systems in accordance with specified standards; requiring that specified civil penalties be paid into the Fund; etc.
HB-1152: Electric Reliability - Priorities and Funding
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman
Favorable Report By Finance on 04/08/2013
Public Service Commission - Participant Compensation [HB-1129]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to award specified reasonable fees and costs of preparation for and participation in a hearing or proceeding before the Commission to specified customers under specified circumstances; requiring a customer that intends to seek a specified award to file and submit to all parties of the hearing or proceeding a notice of intent to claim compensation at a specified time; etc.
HB-1129: Public Service Commission - Participant Compensation
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan Lee
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/12/2013
Electricity - Community Energy-Generating Facilities - Pilot Program [HB-1128]
Establishing a pilot program on community energy-generating facilities under the authority of the Public Service Commission; requiring the Commission to adhere to specified guidelines in conducting the pilot program; authorizing the Commission to assess an administrative fee; stating the effectiveness of contracts entered into during the pilot program; prohibiting the Commission or an electric company from changing the terms of a contract entered into during the pilot program; etc.
HB-1128: Electricity - Community Energy-Generating Facilities - Pilot Program
Sponsored by: Sen. Barbara Robinson
Hearing 3/07 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/07/2013
Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Implementation of Federal Pipeline Safety Laws [HB-1124]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to evaluate a specified process and criteria that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation would use to review an application for the Commission to act under a specified certification or agreement with the U.S. Secretary of Transportation as an interstate authority agent for the purpose of implementing specified federal pipeline safety laws; requiring the Commission to make a specified determination and take specified actions necessary to carry out its responsibilities; etc.
HB-1124: Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Implementation of Federal Pipeline Safety Laws
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Vetoed By The Governor (duplicative) on 05/16/2013
Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Gas Leak Response [HB-1118]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to classify specified gas leaks and to require specified gas transmission companies to remediate and monitor those leaks in a specified manner; requiring the Commission to adopt regulations to establish a specified penalty; requiring a gas transmission company to respond to a report of specified gas leaks in a specified manner; requiring a gas transmission company to receive and investigate reports of suspected leaks within a specified time frame; etc.
HB-1118: Public Safety - Gas Pipelines - Gas Leak Response
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 04/05/2013
Thermal Energy - Task Force and Regulations [HB-1084]
Establishing the Maryland Thermal Renewable Energy Credit Task Force; requiring the Task Force to analyze how to restructure the renewable energy portfolio standard to incorporate specified thermal energy sources; requiring the Task Force to make specified determinations and consider the impact of specified changes; requiring the Task Force to report findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2013; etc.
HB-1084: Thermal Energy - Task Force and Regulations
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 323 on 05/02/2013
Electricity - Smart Meters - Disclosure of Usage Data [HB-1066]
Prohibiting an electric company from disclosing specified data to a third party, subject to a specified exception; authorizing a customer to submit a specified complaint to the Public Service Commission under specified circumstances; requiring the Commission to conduct a specified investigation following receipt of a complaint; authorizing the Commission to take specified actions; making an electric company liable for unauthorized disclosures of specified information; etc.
HB-1066: Electricity - Smart Meters - Disclosure of Usage Data
Sponsored by: Rep. Adrienne Jones
Referred To Interim Study By Economic Matters on 03/19/2013