Utility Regulation
Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Railroad Companies - Condemnation Authority - Application [HB-120]
[Transportation and Motor Vehicles ]
[Infrastructure ]
[Energy ]
Establishing that certain authority of railroad companies to acquire property by condemnation does not apply to an entity that owns or operates a railroad powered by a magnetic levitation propulsion system.
Sponsored by: Rep. Anne Healey
First Reading Environment And Transportation on 01/12/2022
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Gettr Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Department of Human Services - Electric Universal Service Program - Eligibility [HB-138]
[Energy ]
[Human Services ]
[Poverty ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring the Department of Human Services to authorize benefits under the electric universal service program for an electric customer who does not meet the eligibility requirements for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
First Reading Economic Matters on 01/12/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs - Energy Performance Targets and Low-Income Housing [HB-108]
[Energy ]
[Housing ]
Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve an annual incremental gross energy savings of at least 0.4% starting in 2023; requiring the Department to develop a plan to coordinate and leverage funding sources to support certain energy efficiency and other home upgrades and a plan to provide energy efficiency retrofits to all low-income households by 2030; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Vetoed By The Governor (policy) on 05/27/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Climate Crisis and Environmental Justice Act [HB-171]
[Environmental ]
[Energy ]
[Taxes ]
[Climate Change ]
[Air Quality ]
Requiring the State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through various measures, including altering statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction requirements so that after 2040 statewide greenhouse gas emissions are net negative; requiring the Department of the Environment to adopt a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by December 31, 2022; establishing a Climate Crisis Council to develop a plan to meet the reduction targets set out in the Act; establishing a greenhouse gas pollution fee on certain fuels; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. David Vincent Fraser-hidalgo
Hearing 3/10 At 1:00 P.m. (economic Matters) on 02/10/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – Tier 1 Renewable Source – Alterations (Reclaim Renewable Energy Act of 2022) [HB-11]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
[Waste Management / Recycling ]
[Air Quality ]
[Climate Change ]
Altering the definition of "Tier 1 renewable source" for purposes of excluding energy derived from qualifying biomass, methane from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials, certain fuel cells, poultry litter-to-energy, waste-to-energy, refuse-derived fuel, and thermal energy from a thermal biomass system from being eligible for inclusion in the renewable energy portfolio standard.
Sponsored by: Rep. Vaughn Stewart
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/15/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Electric Distribution System Planning and Required Labor Standards [HB-88]
[Energy ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Telecommunications ]
[Public Safety ]
[Construction ]
[Infrastructure ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
Establishing certain State policy goals with regard to the State's electric distribution system; requiring the Public Service Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration to provide assistance and support to electric companies for applying for and obtaining access to certain federal funds to meet the State's policy goals for the electric distribution system; requiring the Administration to identify certain funding sources; establishing labor standards for contractors and subcontractors participating in certain projects; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Referred Finance on 03/21/2022
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Maryland 2022 Regular Session
Maryland Energy Administration – Resiliency Hub Grant Program and Fund [HB-31]
[Energy ]
[Funding ]
[Grants ]
[Public Health ]
[Climate Change ]
[Environmental ]
[Poverty ]
[Community Development ]
Establishing the Resiliency Hub Grant Program in the Maryland Energy Administration to develop resiliency hubs that serve low- and moderate-income households at no cost to the households; defining "resiliency hub" as a location where solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage are designed to provide electricity during extended grid outages; requiring the Administration to establish certain procedures and criteria for the Program; requiring that certain fines and penalties be credited to a certain fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 734 on 05/29/2022
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Gas and Electric Companies - Deposit Charges [HB-1367]
[Energy ]
[Senior Citizens ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Health ]
Prohibiting a gas company or an electric company from imposing a certain deposit requirement on customers who are at least 65 years old and have an annual income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level; prohibiting a gas company or an electric company from terminating certain service for failure to pay all or part of a deposit if the customer pays when due all current charges for gas or electricity delivered and consumed; and providing for the application of the Act.
Sponsored by: Rep. Jay Jalisi
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 03/01/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities – Bills for Electricity Service – Meter Reading [SB-949]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, by regulation or order, to require that a customer's bill for electricity service include the customer's exact meter readings for the close of the last billing cycle and the close of the current billing cycle.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen S Hershey
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 03/31/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Clean and Renewable Energy Standard (CARES) [HB-1362]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
[Climate Change ]
Altering the State's renewable energy portfolio standard to be the clean and renewable energy standard; altering certain legislative findings regarding and purposes of the standard; requiring certain percentages of certain energy in the State to be derived from certain clean energy sources and certain renewable energy sources in certain years; altering certain required percentages of certain energy to satisfy the standard in certain years; establishing certain qualifications for certain clean energy resources; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Economic Matters
First Reading House Rules And Executive Nominations on 02/25/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Home Energy Assistance - Critical Medical Needs Program - Power to the People Pilot Program [SB-846]
[Energy ]
[Healthcare ]
[Public Health ]
[Human Services ]
[Poverty ]
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 on or before July 1, 2022, to expand access to the Critical Medical Needs Program; requiring the Pilot Program to provide training for certain individuals in the Critical Medical Needs Program; requiring the United Way of Central Maryland to develop a certain screening intake process; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Joanne C. Benson
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 454 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems [SB-810]
[Energy ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Environmental ]
[Construction ]
Altering the renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years to require a certain percentage of energy from Tier 1 renewable sources each year to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems; requiring that a certain percentage of energy required to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems be from systems installed on certain property; altering the methods for calculating certain energy savings; providing for the regulation and enforcement of certain requirements by the Department of Labor; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian J. Feldman
Favorable With Amendments {527576/1 Adopted on 04/12/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Human Services - Critical Medical Needs Program - Application for Assistance [SB-907]
[Healthcare ]
[Human Services ]
[Senior Citizens ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring the Office of Home Energy Programs to allow 90 days after applying for assistance for an individual to provide certain medical certification when a critical medically vulnerable individual applies for assistance from the Critical Medical Needs Program if the applicant is at least 60 years old and assisted by a navigator.
Sponsored by: Sen. Joanne C. Benson
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 381 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electric Companies - Billing Information [SB-856]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring an electric company to provide to a retail electricity customer on request the historic usage and billing information for not less than the preceding 12 months; and providing that the electric company must make the information available, as requested by the customer, either on the company's website, electronically to the customer in a PDF format, or sent to the customer's billing address.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen S Hershey
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 173 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Damaged, Obsolete, or Excessive Lines - Fines [HB-1231]
[Telecommunications ]
[Public Safety ]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Infrastructure ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to promptly notify the owner of a utility pole about damaged, dangling, obsolete, or redundant lines or blight or public nuisance caused by an excessive number of lines on a utility pole under certain circumstances; requiring the owner of a utility pole to require the person that controls the line or lines to investigate and repair or remove offending lines within 30 days after receiving a certain notice from the Commission; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin T. Brooks
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/17/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Calvert County – Long–Term Contracts for Cellular Tower Leases [HB-1160]
[Telecommunications ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Infrastructure ]
[Community Development ]
Authorizing Calvert County to enter into a contract for a cellular tower lease, including a cellular tower lease on a water tower, if the initial term of the lease is not more than 20 years.
Sponsored by: Rep. Calvert County Delegation
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 623 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Transitional and Default Electric Service - Implementation [HB-1327]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, by regulation or order, to require that customers are provided access to certain charges for electricity service; requiring the Commission to determine the terms and conditions of transitional electric service and default service; requiring the Commission to administer the transition to default service through a competitive assignment process beginning with electric service rendered on October 1, 2023, and thereafter; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathleen M Dumais
First Reading Economic Matters on 02/08/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems [HB-1007]
[Energy ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Environmental ]
[Construction ]
Altering the renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years to require a certain percentage of energy from Tier 1 renewable sources each year to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems; requiring a certain percentage of energy required to be derived from certain geothermal heating and cooling systems to be from systems installed on certain property; altering the methods for calculating certain energy savings; providing for the regulation and enforcement of certain requirements by the Department of Labor; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 164 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
State Fire Marshal - Investigations - Reporting Requirement [HB-1075]
[Public Safety ]
[Law Enforcement ]
[Energy ]
[Crime ]
Requiring the State Fire Marshal to report to the Public Service Commission with an update of a certain investigation within 90 days after a fire or explosion or attempt to cause a fire or explosion and every 90 days thereafter until the investigation is concluded; and requiring an update to include the status of the investigation and the expected date on which the investigation will conclude.
Sponsored by: Rep. Samuel I Rosenberg
Hearing 3/02 At 1:30 P.m. on 02/10/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Damaged, Obsolete, or Excessive Lines - Study [SB-754]
[Telecommunications ]
[Energy ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to convene a workgroup of interested persons to study damaged, dangling, obsolete, or redundant utility, telecommunication, or other lines, or blight or public nuisance caused by an excessive number of lines on utility poles in Maryland; requiring the workgroup to examine certain matters relating to utility, telecommunications, and other lines; and requiring the Commission to report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2021.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/31/2021