Utility Regulation
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Natural Gas Infrastructure Expansion and Reinforcement [SB-778]
Authorizing a gas company to defer specified costs for specified projects to extend specified natural gas transmission pipeline, distribution main pipeline, system reinforcement facilities, and associated facilities; specifying the circumstances under which a specified expansion project qualifies for deferral of specified costs; specifying the manner in which a gas company is required to account for specified costs; requiring the Commission to take specified action during a specified base rate proceeding; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. John Astle
Hearing 3/01 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/01/2016
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Gettr Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Maryland Clean Energy Center - Task Force [SB-726]
Establishing the Task Force on the Maryland Clean Energy Center; requiring the Task Force to assess specified programs, review specified State financing instrumentalities, identify specified resources, review specified cost-effective opportunities, and make specified determinations; requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 1, 2016; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 577 on 05/19/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Safety - 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System - Information Sharing (Carl Henn's Law) [SB-686]
Specifying that a purpose of the 9-1-1 emergency telephone system is to establish a specified mechanism for the Emergency Number Systems Board to review specified data; expanding the purpose of the Board to include review of specified data contained in specified reports; requiring the Board to include a general summary of findings from a review of specified reports in an annual report submitted to specified entities; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cheryl Kagan
Hearing 3/08 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/08/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Energy Efficiency Programs - Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Services [SB-684]
Prohibiting an affiliate of an electric company from using the electric company's trade name, logo, billing services, mail inserts, advertising, or computer services for a plan or program that provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration services; requiring the Public Service Commission to determine just and reasonable compensation that an affiliate of an electric company shall provide to customers of the electric company's regulated services; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. John Astle
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 04/08/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Underground Conduit System - Rate Modification Imposed by Local Jurisdiction - Notice, Hearing, and Appeal [SB-632]
Requiring a local jurisdiction to publish notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation and hold a public hearing on the necessity of the proposed rate modification for the use of its underground conduit system; authorizing a specified person to appeal to the Public Service Commission the reasonableness of the local jurisdiction's rate modification; requiring the Commission to determine, on appeal, the reasonableness of the local jurisdiction's rate modification; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Hershey
Hearing 2/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/23/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Transportation Network Services and For-Hire Transportation - Clarifications [SB-54]
Expanding the types of motor vehicle liability insurers that may exclude coverage to operators providing transportation network services; prohibiting a person from operating a transportation network company in the State without a permit issued by the Public Service Commission; providing that before December 15, 2016, the Commission may not require an applicant for a for-hire driver's license or transportation network operator's license to comply with a specified criminal history records check; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(b) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 16 on 04/07/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Electric and Gas Companies - Rate Regulation - Infrastructure Investments [SB-510]
Increasing to a maximum amount of $4, up from $2, a specified monthly natural gas surcharge for specified retail natural gas customers; authorizing an electric company to recover specified costs associated with specified electric system infrastructure investments through a specified electric system infrastructure investment surcharge on customer bills; requiring electric system infrastructure investment cost calculations to include specified elements; specifying when costs shall be collectible; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Hearing 2/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/23/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority - Funding [SB-480]
Authorizing the Maryland Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Authority to collect an assessment or a charge not exceeding 5 cents per ticket under specified circumstances; specifying the circumstances under which the Authority may collect an assessment or a charge; and providing for an exception to a specified limitation regarding sources of operational funding for the Authority.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 675 on 05/28/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Railroad Company - Movement of Freight - Required Crew [SB-275]
Prohibiting a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight from being operated in the State unless it has at least two crew members; prohibiting a county or municipal corporation from enacting and enforcing more stringent measures regarding the specified crew requirements; establishing penalties of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for a second offense and each subsequent offense committed within a period of 3 years of the second offense; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Hearing 3/31 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/31/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Gas Companies - Infrastructure Replacement Projects - Amendment to a Plan [SB-162]
Altering from 120 to 150 the number of days during which the Public Service Commission is required to take a final action after a gas company files an amendment to an approved plan to invest in eligible infrastructure replacement projects.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 355 on 05/10/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Company - Easement - Policy and Notice for Performing Work [SB-1157]
Requiring each public service company to establish a policy and procedures for performing work on property subject to the public service company's easement; requiring that a specified policy and procedures provide that a public service company that has not entered onto property subject to a specified easement within the past 2 years to provide 2 months' notice to the property owner of land subject to a specified easement before performing any work on the property.
Sponsored by: Sen. Katherine Klausmeier
Favorable With Amendments Report By Finance on 03/31/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Electric Cooperatives - Rate Regulation - Fixed Charges for Distribution System Costs [SB-1131]
Authorizing an electric cooperative to propose a fixed charge for specified fixed costs; requiring the fixed charge to be applied in a specified manner; prohibiting an electric cooperative from proposing an increase to a fixed charge that is more than 25% greater than the fixed charge in effect 1 year before the effective date of the proposed increase; specifying the manner in which an electric cooperative may propose a fixed charge; applying the Act prospectively; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Hearing 3/23 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/23/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Electric Affordability Program - Study [SB-1075]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to study and make recommendations about the advisability of establishing an opt-in electric affordability program for residential and small business customers of specified electric companies with specified characteristics and the advisability of allowing specified electric cooperatives to participate in the program; requiring the Commission to study and make recommendations on or before December 31, 2016, to specified committees of the General Assembly; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian Feldman
Favorable Report By Finance on 04/11/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Public Notice [SB-1069]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to provide a weekly notice of a public hearing and an opportunity for public comment on two types of social media and on the Commission's Web site with a specified frequency before the public hearing date; requiring the Commission, before a public hearing, to coordinate with a specified governing body or municipal corporation to identify additional options for providing, in an efficient and cost-effective manner, notice of the public hearing to the specified residents; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores Kelley
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 464 on 05/10/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act of 2016 [SB-1014]
Establishing the Clean Energy Workforce Account in the Maryland Employment Advancement Right Now Program; providing the Account be used for grants for strategic industry partnerships for pre-apprenticeship job training for careers in the clean energy industry, or to provide pathways to advance existing careers within the clean energy industry; requiring the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to include specified information about the Clean Energy Workforce Account in a specified annual report; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Catherine Pugh
Unfavorable Report By Senate Rules; Withdrawn on 02/19/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Utility Customers - Carbon Footprint [HB-948]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to develop a specified methodology to calculate the carbon footprint for specified utility customers; requiring a utility company to calculate the carbon footprint for specified customers; and requiring a utility company to include a customer's carbon footprint in the customer's monthly bill.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dan Morhaim
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/14/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Commissioners - Selection and Term [HB-937]
Providing for the appointment of one commissioner by the President of the Senate and and one commissioner by the Speaker of the House of Delegates to the Public Service Commission; specifying the term of a commissioner, based on staggered terms that take effect on June 1, 2016; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Nathaniel Oaks
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 03/19/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Electric Affordability Program - Study [HB-927]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to study and make recommendations about the advisability of establishing an opt-in electric affordability program for residential and small business customers of specified electric companies with specified characteristics and the advisability of allowing specified electric cooperatives to participate in the program; requiring the Commission to study and make recommendations on or before December 31, 2016, to specified committees of the General Assembly; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dereck Davis
Favorable Report By Finance on 04/11/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Railroad Company - Movement of Freight - Required Crew [HB-92]
Prohibiting a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight from being operated in the State unless it has at least two crew members; providing for the application of the Act; and establishing penalties of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for a second offense and each subsequent offense committed within a period of 3 years of the second offense.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Hearing 2/11 At 1:30 P.m. on 02/11/2016
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Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Energy Storage Portfolio Standard (Storage Technology and Electric Power (STEP) Act) [HB-821]
Establishing a specified energy storage portfolio standard in the State; requiring specified electricity suppliers to comply with the energy storage portfolio standard by specified dates; requiring specified storage capacity to be sufficient to provide electricity at a specified capacity for a specified period; providing that specified energy storage devices may be used to comply with the energy storage portfolio standard, with specified exceptions; providing for the creation and use of energy storage credits; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. C. William Frick
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 03/08/2016