Utility Regulation
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Gas and Electricity - Analog Meters - Purchase and Installation [HB-1355]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to authorize a customer of a gas company or an electric company to purchase and install an analog meter; requiring the meter to comply with specified standards; requiring a gas company or an electric company to install the meter or allow specified persons to install the meter at the customer's request; providing that an analog meter may replace a different type of meter; prohibiting a gas company or an electric company from requiring the customer to install additional controls; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Nathaniel Oaks
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/14/2016
Spread the world
Gettr Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Gas and Electricity - Smart Meters - Customer Rights and Required Reports [HB-1354]
Requiring a utility company to give specified written notice to specified customers prior to deploying smart meters throughout all or a portion of the utility company's service territory; prohibiting a utility company from imposing any additional fee or charge on a specified customer who refuses installation of a smart meter or requests removal of a smart meter; requiring the Public Service Commission and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to make specified reports regarding smart meters; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Nathaniel Oaks
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/14/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Service Companies and Utility Companies - Entering on Property - Notice to Owner [HB-1351]
Requiring a public service company or other utility company to provide written notice to a property owner 30 days before entering onto the property for a specified purpose; and providing that a public service company or other utility company is not required to give notice under specified circumstances.
Sponsored by: Rep. Talmadge Branch
Hearing 3/11 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/11/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Natural Gas Infrastructure Expansion and Reinforcement [HB-1324]
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: Rep. Talmadge Branch
Hearing 3/10 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/10/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources [HB-1287]
Prohibiting specified Tier 1 renewable sources from being eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard on and after January 1, 2018; authorizing renewable energy credits generated from specified Tier 1 renewable sources before January 1, 2017, to be eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard in accordance with a specified provision of law; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 03/10/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Strategic Energy Investment Program and Advisory Board - Alterations [HB-1281]
Requiring the Maryland Energy Administration to provide specified plans to the Strategic Energy Investment Advisory Board in specified years; requiring the Administration to provide reports on the implementation of the plans in specified years; requiring the Governor to appoint the chair of the Board from among the voting members; requiring that copies of a specified report be provided to the members of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Tawanna Gaines
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 507 on 05/10/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Termination of Service to Multifamily Dwelling Unit - Notification to Property Owner or Manager [HB-128]
Requiring a public service company that is going to terminate electric or gas service to a customer who resides in a multifamily dwelling unit to notify the property owner or property manager of the multifamily dwelling unit before terminating service to the customer; requiring a public service company to provide the notice only to a property owner or property manager who enrolls in a specified service termination notification program; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Jackson
Unfavorable Report By Finance; Withdrawn on 04/01/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Electric Universal Service Program - Solar Procurement Study [HB-1276]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to study and make recommendations about the advisability of establishing a requirement for procuring a portion of the electricity supply for participants in the Electric Universal Service Program from specified solar and other carbon-free or low-carbon renewable sources; establishing the required elements of the study; requiring the Commission to report the results of the study, on or before July 1, 2017, to specified committees of the General Assembly; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Dana Stein
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 03/14/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Maryland Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2016 [HB-1145]
Extending a specified credit against the State income tax for electricity produced by specified facilities from specified qualified energy resources to be certified on or before December 31, 2018; and extending the period in which the Maryland Energy Administration may issue specified qualifying certifications.
Sponsored by: Rep. Sheila Hixson
Third Reading Passed With Amendments (45-0) on 04/07/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Gas and Electric Companies - Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund [HB-1144]
Establishing the Retail Choice Customer Education and Protection Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; specifying the purpose of the Fund; requiring the Public Service Commission to administer the Fund; requiring the State Treasurer to hold the Fund and the Comptroller to account for the Fund; specifying the contents of the Fund; specifying the purpose for which the Fund may be used; providing for the investment of money in and expenditures from the Fund; requiring that specified civil penalties be paid into the Fund; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Warren Miller
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 134 on 04/12/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Utility Supplier Diversity - Data Submission and Task Force [HB-1118]
Requiring a public service company that is a signatory of a specified memorandum of understanding to submit specified data to the Public Service Commission before the public service company establishes a new rate or change in rate; establishing the Task Force to Study Utility Supplier Diversity; requiring the Task Force to report its findings to the Governor and specified committees of the General Assembly on or before December 15, 2016; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Barbara Robinson
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/14/2016
Spread the world
Maryland 2016 Regular Session
Clean Energy Jobs - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard Revisions [HB-1106]
Altering the renewable energy portfolio standard percentage derived from solar energy for specified years; altering the renewable energy portfolio standard percentage derived from Tier 1 renewable sources for specified years; authorizing the Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses Account to receive money from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund; requiring the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to study the workforce development training needs for the clean energy industry in the State; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. William Smith
Hearing 4/05 At 1:00 P.m. on 04/05/2017
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Land-Based Wind Generating Stations in Kent County [SB-938]
Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from taking final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of a specified land-based wind generating station that will be wholly or partly located in Kent County until the County Commissioners of Kent County have approved the construction of the generating station.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Hershey
Hearing 4/07 At 1:00 P.m. on 04/07/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Electric Companies - Definition by Class [SB-914]
Defining specified classes of electric companies; and altering the definition of "electric company" to include specified classes of electric companies.
Sponsored by: Sen. Stephen Hershey
Hearing 3/24 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/24/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Gas and Electricity - Smart Meters - Customer Rights and Required Reports [SB-9]
Requiring a utility company to give specified written notice to specified customers prior to deploying smart meters throughout all or a portion of the utility company's service territory; prohibiting a utility company from imposing any additional fee or charge on a specified customer who refuses installation of a smart meter or requests removal of a smart meter; requiring the Public Service Commission and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to make specified reports regarding smart meters; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Nathaniel McFadden
Hearing 2/17 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/17/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Offshore Wind - Application for Proposed Project - Evaluation and Approval [SB-899]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to evaluate the extent to which an applicant's plan for a specified proposed offshore wind project directly or indirectly encroaches on existing private, State, federal, or military infrastructure, resources, facilities, ranges, or operating environments; and prohibiting the Commission from approving an applicant's proposed offshore wind project unless the proposed offshore wind project will not impact specified restricted areas and a specified warning area in a specified manner.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Hearing 3/26 At 1:00 P.m. on 03/26/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Transportation Network Services and For-Hire Transportation [SB-868]
Authorizing the establishment of transportation network services in the State; requiring specified motor vehicle insurance to be issued by specified insurers under specified circumstances; prohibiting a person from operating a specified motor vehicle for hire under a specified permit unless the person holds a specified license issued by the Public Service Commission; authorizing the Commission to issue a permanent driver's license if the applicant submits a specified criminal background check; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Thomas Middleton
Approved By The Governor - Chapter 204 on 05/12/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Energy Efficiency Programs - Transferring Development to the Maryland Energy Administration [SB-826]
Transferring the development of energy efficiency and conservation programs and services from specified utilities to the Maryland Energy Administration; requiring the Administration to oversee energy efficiency and conservation programs and services; requiring specified utilities to implement specified programs developed by the Administration; requiring the Public Service Commission to establish a specified customer charge; requiring the Commission to adopt specified regulations or orders on or before December 31, 2015; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. John Astle
Unfavorable Report By Finance on 03/23/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Combustion Source [SB-760]
Prohibiting an electricity supplier from receiving renewable energy credits from a combustion source in an amount greater than a specified renewable energy credit amount on and after January 1, 2016; and stating that energy from a combustion source is eligible for inclusion in meeting the renewable energy portfolio standard if it is generated at a system or facility that existed and was operational as of January 1, 2015, even if the facility or system was not capable of generating electricity on that date.
Sponsored by: Sen. Karen Montgomery
First Reading Senate Rules on 02/16/2015
Spread the world
Maryland 2015 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Electric Companies - Vegetation Management [SB-747]
Requiring the Public Service Commission, in adopting specified vegetation management regulations, to require that an electric company's vegetation management program comply with the International Society of Arboriculture's Best Management Practices for Utility Pruning of Trees; and prohibiting an electric company from removing a tree on private property unless the tree is hazardous and the private property owner has consented to removal of the hazardous tree.
Sponsored by: Sen. Susan Lee
Unfavorable Report By Finance; Withdrawn on 03/18/2015