Utility Regulation
Maryland 2021 Regular Session
For-Hire Driving and Vehicles - Requirements [SB-429]
Altering the requirements for submission of certain photographs by certain applicants for a for-hire driver's license to the Public Service Commission; requiring certain applicants for a for-hire driver's license to allow the Commission access to photographs through the Motor Vehicle Administration; requiring certain applicants to provide photographs in a format that the Commission specifies; repealing the requirement for certain applicants for a Baltimore City taxicab license to have completed a certain course; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 270 on 05/18/2021
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Gettr Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Virtual Public Hearings [SB-430]
Authorizing the Public Service Commission to conduct certain hearings relating to certain rate increases virtually; authorizing the Commission to conduct certain public hearings relating to certain certificates of public convenience and necessity virtually in a certain manner; requiring the Commission to provide information on the virtual hearings prominently on the Commission's website; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 268 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Regulatory Assets - Prohibition [SB-506]
Prohibiting a public service company from receiving a rate of return on a regulatory asset created as a result of conditions addressed by a certain state of emergency as declared by the Governor.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Hearing 2/16 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/24/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Low-Income Housing - Energy Performance Targets [SB-462]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, for the 2021-2023 program cycle, by regulation or order, to the extent that the Commission determines that low-income programs are available, to require the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve a target annual incremental gross energy savings of at least 1% per year starting in 2022; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman
Hearing 2/16 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/24/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
State Fire Marshal - Investigations - Reporting Requirement [SB-481]
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: Sen. Jill Carter
Hearing 2/18 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/26/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Gas Service Regulator Safety (Flower Branch Act) [SB-503]
Requiring that any gas service newly installed at an occupied structure may have a gas service regulator installed only outside the structure; requiring an existing interior gas service regulator in a multifamily residential structure to be relocated outside whenever a gas service line or regulator is replaced; requiring a gas company, on or before January 1, 2022, to file a plan with the Public Service Commission to relocate any gas service regulator that provides service to a multifamily residential structure; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 264 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Power Plant Research Program - Review of Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Alterations [SB-417]
Altering the circumstances under which the Public Service Commission must notify the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of the Environment about an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity associated with power plant construction; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to complete an independent environmental and socioeconomic project assessment report within 6 months after the Commission determines the application to be complete; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Paul Pinsky
Vetoed By The Governor (policy) on 05/28/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
For-Hire Driving and Vehicles - Requirements [HB-558]
Altering the requirements for submission of certain photographs by certain applicants for a for-hire driver's license to the Public Service Commission; requiring certain applicants for a for-hire driver's license to allow the Commission access to photographs through the Motor Vehicle Administration; requiring certain applicants to provide photographs in a format that the Commission specifies; repealing the requirement for certain applicants for a Baltimore City taxicab license to have completed a certain course; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dereck Davis
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 269 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity and Gas - Limited-Income Mechanisms and Assistance [HB-606]
Authorizing certain gas and electric utilities to adopt a limited-income mechanism to benefit certain eligible limited-income customers, subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission; expanding the electric universal service program to customers who are at least 67 years old with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; establishing a Workgroup on Low-Income Utility Assistance to examine the forms of federal, State, local, and private assistance available to low-income residential energy customers; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dereck Davis
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 638 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Montgomery County - Interference With Electric Company's Vegetation Management Compliance - Exemption MC 10-21 [HB-431]
Exempting Montgomery County from the prohibition against adopting or enforcing a local law, rule, or regulation or taking any other action that interferes with, or materially increases the cost of the work of an electric company toward, compliance with certain vegetation management standards.
Sponsored by: Rep.
Withdrawn By Sponsor on 02/10/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity and Gas - Limited-Income Mechanisms and Assistance [SB-392]
Authorizing certain gas and electric utilities to adopt a limited-income mechanism to benefit certain eligible limited-income customers, subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission; expanding the electric universal service program to customers who are at least 67 years old with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; establishing a Workgroup on Low-Income Utility Assistance to study low-income energy assistance programs; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Malcolm Augustine
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 639 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity - Change of Address - Maintenance of Subscriptions and Contracts [HB-473]
Authorizing a subscriber to a community solar energy generating system who has a change in the service address associated with the subscription to maintain the subscription under certain circumstances; prohibiting an electric company or a subscription organization from terminating a subscriber's subscription due to a change of a certain address under certain circumstances; requiring an electric company to make certain changes to accommodate a subscriber's change of address under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathleen Dumais
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 265 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity – Net Energy Metering – Limit [SB-407]
Increasing to 3,000 megawatts the statewide limit on rated generating capacity for net energy metering under a certain contract or tariff available to certain eligible customer-generators.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 272 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Tier 2 Renewable Sources, Qualifying Biomass, and Compliance Fees [SB-65]
Altering the renewable energy portfolio standard for 2021 through 2030 and later; extending eligibility of certain Tier 2 renewable sources for purposes of the renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years; altering the compliance fee for a shortfall from the required percentage of energy from certain Tier 1 renewable sources for the renewable energy portfolio standard in certain years; altering the definition of "qualifying biomass" for certain purposes; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Hearing 1/21 At 1:00 P.m. on 12/23/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities – Low–Income Housing – Energy Performance Targets [HB-379]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, for the 2021-2023 program cycle, by regulation or order, to the extent that the Commission determines that low-income programs are available, to require the Department of Housing and Community Development to procure or provide for electricity customers energy efficiency and conservation programs and services designed to achieve a target annual incremental gross energy savings of at least 1% per year starting in 2022; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/20/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Public Utilities – Investor–Owned Utilities – Prevailing Wage [HB-174]
Requiring certain investor-owned gas, electric, or combination gas and electric companies to require certain contractors and subcontractors to pay their employees not less than the prevailing wage rate for certain projects involving the construction, reconstruction, installation, demolition, restoration, or alteration of any underground gas or electric infrastructure of the company, and any related traffic control activities.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Brooks
Vetoed By The Governor (policy) on 05/28/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Utility Regulation - Consideration of Climate and Labor [HB-298]
Requiring the Secretary of the Environment to prepare a certain recommendation in connection with certain issues considered by the Public Service Commission; requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to incorporate an evaluation of the impact of certain electric power plants on climate change into the Power Plant Research Program; requiring the Commission to consider the maintenance of fair and stable labor standards and the protection of the global climate in supervising and regulating certain public service companies; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Lorig Charkoudian
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 614 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity – Change of Address – Maintenance of Subscriptions and Contracts [SB-79]
Authorizing a subscriber to a community solar energy generating system who has a change in the service address associated with the subscription to maintain the subscription if the new address is in the same electric territory; prohibiting an electric company or a subscription organization from terminating a subscriber's subscription due to a change of a certain address under certain circumstances; requiring an electric company to make certain changes to accommodate a subscriber's change of address under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Benjamin Kramer
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 266 on 05/18/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Electricity and Gas - Energy Suppliers - Supply Offers [SB-31]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, by January 1, 2023, to establish an administrative process to approve supply offers for electricity or gas for households in the State that receive energy assistance through a program in the Office of Home Energy Programs; prohibiting, beginning on July 1, 2023, unless the Commission has approved the supply offer, a third-party retail supplier from offering to provide electricity or gas, renewing a certain contract, or charging a certain fee to certain households in the State; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mary Washington
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 637 on 05/30/2021
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Maryland 2021 Regular Session
Clean Energy Attribute Credits and Procurement [SB-53]
Establishing a clean energy attribute credit standard for certain purposes; repealing certain provisions relating to the renewable energy portfolio standard; stating certain findings of the General Assembly; stating certain policies of the State regarding certain energy sources and markets; requiring the Public Service Commission to appoint an independent administrator for certain purposes with certain qualifications and certain duties; providing for the term and reappointment of the independent administrator; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Hershey
Hearing 1/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 12/23/2021