Utility Regulation
Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Telephone Solicitation (Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023) [HB-37]
Prohibiting a person from making certain telephone solicitations to a certain called party in a certain manner by restricting the methods, times, and identifying information that the person making the call may utilize; providing that the Act does not apply to certain entities and circumstances; and making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
Sponsored by: Rep. Vaughn Stewart
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 414 on 05/03/2023
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Gettr Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Land Use - Public Service Companies - Pollinator-Friendly Vegetation Management and Utility-Designated Pollinator Areas [SB-62]
Prohibiting local jurisdictions from imposing certain limitations and land use restrictions on utility-designated pollinator areas maintained by a public service company under certain conditions; requiring certain public service companies to mow utility-designated pollinator areas in a certain manner in order to minimize disturbances to habitats; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Malcolm Augustine
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 464 on 05/08/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Electricity – Net Energy Metering – Accrual of Net Excess Generation (Net Metering Flexibility Act) [HB-68]
Authorizing an eligible customer-generator to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period; requiring an eligible customer-generator that elects to accrue net excess generation for an indefinite period to forfeit any net excess generation at the time an account is closed; and altering the month used to establish an annual billing cycle for the payment of net excess generation accrued.
Sponsored by: Rep. Marc Korman
Hearing 2/09 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/30/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Telephone Solicitation (Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023) [SB-90]
Prohibiting a person from making certain telephone solicitations to a certain called party in a certain manner by restricting the methods, times, and identifying information that the person making the call may utilize; and making a violation of the Act an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practice that is subject to enforcement and penalties under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
Sponsored by: Sen. Joanne Benson
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 413 on 05/03/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program – Renewal [HB-7]
Altering the Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment Rebate Program by extending the duration of the Program through fiscal year 2027, increasing the total amount of rebates issued annually under the Program to $2,000,000, repealing the rebates that may be issued to retail service station dealers, limiting the issuance of rebates to one recharging system per individual per address, and authorizing the Maryland Energy Administration to offer additional benefits under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Fraser-hidalgo
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 04/10/2023
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Maryland 2023 Regular Session
Land Use - Public Service Companies - Pollinator-Friendly Vegetation Management and Utility-Designated Pollinator Areas [HB-62]
Prohibiting local jurisdictions from imposing any unreasonable limitations, including land use restrictions, on utility-designated pollinator areas maintained by a public service company under certain conditions; requiring certain public service companies to mow utility designated pollinator areas in a manner which minimizes disturbances to habitats; stating the intent of the General Assembly related to State and local laws regarding weed control and vegetation management by public service companies outside of pollinator areas; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 463 on 05/08/2023
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Transportation - Magnetic Levitation Transportation Systems - Rapid Rail Local Development Councils [SB-1013]
Requiring a railroad company that acquires property by condemnation for a magnetic levitation transportation system to pay an additional amount equal to 25% of the acquisition cost of the property to a local development council; authorizing the governing body of a county to establish a rapid rail local development council; and requiring a rapid rail local development council to distribute funds for certain community projects to a nonprofit organization, a school, a faith-based organization, or a certain community organization.
Sponsored by: Sen. Antonio Hayes
Motion Rules Suspend To Refer (senator Beidle) Adopted (37-8) on 04/06/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Blue Ribbon Community Solar Land Use Commission [SB-999]
Establishing the Blue Ribbon Community Solar Land Use Commission to study and make recommendations regarding the land use needs, the total number of megawatts of solar electricity needed, and the rate of rooftop solar panels compared to ground-mounted solar panels needed to meet the full generation capacity authorized under the Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Pilot Program; and requiring the Commission to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Hershey
First Reading Senate Rules on 02/23/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Net Energy Metering - Eligibility Requirements [SB-936]
Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from setting eligibility requirements for an electric generating system used by an eligible customer-generator that are based on the eligible customer-generator's baseline annual usage.
Sponsored by: Sen. Jason Gallion
First Reading Senate Rules on 02/13/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Public Utilities – Electric School Bus Pilot Program [SB-948]
Establishing an electric school bus pilot program; requiring the Public Service Commission to implement and administer the pilot program; authorizing investor-owned electric companies to apply to the Commission to implement an electric school bus pilot program with a participating school system if the pilot program meets certain standards; and authorizing investor-owned electric companies to recover certain costs under the pilot program, subject to the approval of the Commission.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Hearing Canceled on 03/14/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Cybersecurity - Critical Infrastructure and Public Service Companies (Critical Infrastructure Security Act of 2022) [HB-1339]
Authorizing the Department of Emergency Management to take action to reduce the disaster risk and vulnerability of critical infrastructure; establishing the Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Grant Program in the Department to leverage certain funds to make cybersecurity improvements to critical infrastructure; altering the duties and staffing requirements of the Public Service Commission to include cybersecurity; authorizing the Office of People's Counsel to retain or hire an expert in cybersecurity; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ken Kerr
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/15/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Zero–Emission Energy Resources and Carbon Capture, Use, and Sequestration – Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Study [HB-1366]
Including a zero-emission energy resource as a Tier 1 renewable source eligible for meeting certain Tier 1 obligations under the renewable energy portfolio standard; and requiring the Maryland Energy Administration, in consultation with the Public Service Commission, the Department of the Environment, and the Department of Natural Resources, to conduct a study on carbon capture, use, and sequestration.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Hearing 3/10 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/14/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Pilot Program - Alterations [HB-1261]
Repealing the requirement that a community solar energy generating system be located in the same electric service territory as a subscriber for the subscriber to receive monthly electric bill credits; requiring the Public Service Commission to require an electric company to file a revised tariff and protocol related to the application of bill credits by November 1, 2022; and requiring the Commission by January 31, 2023 to approve or amend and approve the required tariffs and protocols.
Sponsored by: Rep. Pamela Queen
Hearing Canceled on 02/22/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Electricity - Net Energy Metering - Generation Credits [HB-1112]
Requiring that an eligible customer-generator receive generation credits for net excess generation that are applied to the total monthly electricity bill from an electric company.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks
Hearing 3/10 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/14/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Homeowner Utility Repair Fund - Establishment [HB-1271]
Establishing the Homeowner Utility Repair Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to offset the costs a low- to middle-income residential customer may incur due to damage caused by a utility company's routine maintenance, repairs, or upgrades; and requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund.
Sponsored by: Rep. Robbyn Lewis
Hearing 3/10 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/14/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
County and Municipal Street Lighting Investment Act [HB-1083]
Authorizing a certain county or municipality to convert its street lighting service to a customer-owned street lighting tariff, acquire certain street lighting equipment by purchase or condemnation, enter into an agreement to purchase electricity, and request that an electric company remove certain street lighting equipment in the county's or municipality's jurisdiction; authorizing certain street lighting disputes to be submitted to the Public Service Commission for resolution; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Neil Parrott
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 04/06/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Human Services - Office of Home Energy Programs - Power to the People Pilot Program Personnel and Uniform Redetermination Process [HB-1001]
Requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs, in coordination with the United Way of Central Maryland and the Fuel Fund of Maryland, to establish the Power to the People Pilot Program; providing that certain funding for the Program be used to hire certain part-time personnel instead of full-time personnel; requiring the Office to develop a certain redetermination process to assist eligible energy customers who are at least 65 years old in enrolling in energy assistance programs; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ned Carey
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 665 on 05/29/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Human Services – Silver Energy Savers Program and Energy Assistance Fund [HB-998]
Requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs to establish a Silver Energy Savers Program to provide bill assistance to eligible energy customers who are at least 60 years old; requiring the Office to enter into a contract with 2-1-1 Maryland to provide assistance with the Program; requiring 2-1-1 Maryland to designate four centers in certain regions of the State to administer the Program; establishing the Office of Home Energy Programs Energy Assistance Fund to administer the Silver Energy Savers Program; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Ned Carey
Referred Finance on 03/21/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Underground Facilities - One-Call System [HB-994]
Requiring a person notifying the one-call system before performing an excavation or demolition to select a specific start work date; altering the information that must be provided to a one-call system; requiring the ticket generated by the one-call system to include a response date and time that corresponds with the start work date selected by the person; altering the time frame during which a ticket is valid; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 435 on 05/16/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Qualifying Biomass and Thermal Biomass Systems [HB-1085]
Altering the components of fuels that qualify a generating facility as a Tier 1 renewable source under the renewable energy portfolio standard by altering the definitions of "qualifying biomass" and "thermal biomass system".
Sponsored by: Rep. Jason Buckel
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/15/2022