Utility Regulation
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Electric Facilities - Study and Procedures [SB-741]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources to require the Department of Natural Resources, within 60 days of the filing of a certain application with the Public Service Commission, to complete an independent environmental and socioeconomic project assessment report and any other additional required study; requiring the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Secretary of the Environment to forward certain information to the Public Service Commission in accordance with a certain procedural schedule adopted by the Commission; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian J. Feldman
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Gettr Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Public Utility Regulation Fund - Cap [SB-676]
[Budget and Spending ]
[Energy ]
[Finance ]
[Public Safety ]
Increasing, from 0.17% to 0.25%, the maximum that may be charged to certain public service companies for a State fiscal year to reimburse the Public Service Commission for certain costs and expenses.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 55 on 05/08/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Residential Electricity and Gas Supply Billing Information - Reports [SB-686]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring certain persons to submit to the Public Service Commission beginning July 1, 2021, monthly reports containing detailed billing information on the supply of electricity and gas to certain residential customers; requiring certain initial reports to include information from the previous 12 months; providing for the required contents of each report; requiring certain information to be organized by low-income customers and all other customers; requiring the Commission to make each report available to certain persons; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Unfavorable Report By Finance on 03/13/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Electric Companies - Billing Information [HB-886]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
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 in a certain manner.
Sponsored by: Rep. Seth A. Howard
Favorable With Amendments Report By Economic Matters on 03/17/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Public Utilities - Underground Facilities - Time-Sensitive Ticket [HB-861]
[Telecommunications ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Infrastructure ]
[Public Safety ]
[Consumer Protection ]
Requiring an owner-member whose underground facility provides broadband service to mark the location of the underground facility within 4 hours after a time-sensitive ticket is transferred to the owner-member; and defining "time-sensitive ticket" as a ticket that the person initiating a ticket request identifies as requiring an owner-member to mark its underground facility promptly in order to minimize damage to property; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Susan W Krebs
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters; Withdrawn on 02/25/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Utilities - Surviving Spouse of Account Holder - Protections [SB-628]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring a certain utility, on presentation of certain documents and without requiring certain information or imposing a fee or penalty, to temporarily keep a certain account open for a certain period of time or transfer a certain account to a surviving spouse under certain circumstances; and authorizing a certain utility to impose a fee or penalty or terminate an account for nonpayment under certain circumstances or close a certain account under certain circumstances.
Sponsored by: Sen. Cheryl C. Kagan
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 570 on 05/08/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Electricity Suppliers and Gas Suppliers - Consumer Protections [SB-681]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Authorizing the Office of People's Counsel to investigate and request certain documents from an electricity supplier or a gas supplier under certain circumstances; requiring the Office of People's Counsel to have a reasonable basis before initiating a certain investigation; requiring an electricity supplier or a gas supplier to provide certain written responses and documents to the Office of People's Counsel under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Electricity and Gas - Energy Suppliers - Assisted Customers [SB-685]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Prohibiting, with a certain exception, a retail electricity or natural gas supplier from knowingly enrolling a certain residential customer with or submitting an enrollment to change the customer's electricity supplier to a competitive supplier if the customer had received certain financial assistance in the preceding 12 months; requiring an electric company to confirm certain matters in its records at a certain time; requiring an electric company to verify a customer's status at a certain time; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Referred Economic Matters on 03/16/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Municipal Electric Utilities [SB-677]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
Setting the renewable energy portfolio standard for municipal electric utilities for 2020 and later.
Sponsored by: Sen. Adelaide C Eckardt
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Utility Regulation - Consideration of Climate and Labor [SB-656]
[Energy ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Climate Change ]
[Environmental ]
[Public Health ]
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: Sen. James C. Rosapepe
Referred Economic Matters Environment And Transportation on 03/12/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Electricity and Gas Suppliers - Training and Educational Program [SB-603]
[Energy ]
[Public Safety ]
[Public Health ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Education ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to develop a training and educational program for certain licensed energy suppliers; requiring the Commission to develop the program in consultation with interested stakeholders, including electricity suppliers and gas suppliers; requiring designated representatives to demonstrate a thorough understanding of certain Commission regulations; requiring the Commission to conduct an examination at the conclusion of training and provide certification on a satisfactory score; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian J. Feldman
Enacted Under Article Ii, Section 17(c) Of The Maryland Constitution - Chapter 374 on 05/08/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Eligible Sources [SB-560]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
Altering the eligibility of certain sources of energy for the creation of credits under the renewable energy portfolio standard; removing certain sources from the definition of a "Tier 1 renewable source"; providing that existing obligations or contract rights may not be impaired by the Act; and applying the Act to all renewable energy portfolio standard compliance years beginning after December 31, 2020.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Frederick County - Solar Energy - Municipal Electric Utilities [SB-559]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
Altering to 2.5% the percentage of the renewable energy portfolio standard that must be derived from solar energy for a municipal electric utility in Frederick County.
Sponsored by: Sen. Ronald N Young
Hearing 2/14 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Electricity - Considerations for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and Overhead Transmission Lines [SB-578]
[Energy ]
[Infrastructure ]
[Public Lands and National Parks ]
[Telecommunications ]
[Construction ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to take final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity only after due consideration certain factors including whether the applicant's design prioritizes the use or upgrading of existing infrastructure; prohibiting the construction of an overhead transmission line that is aligned with and within 1 mile of a conservation easement unless there is a certain showing of good cause; and providing for the prospective application of the Act.
Sponsored by: Sen. Harford County Senators
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Application for Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity - Preservation of Environmental Quality and the Climate [SB-538]
[Environmental ]
[Energy ]
[Climate Change ]
[Public Health ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to give due consideration to the effect of a generating station, overhead transmission line, or qualified generator lead line on the preservation of environmental quality and the climate before taking final action on an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity.
Sponsored by: Sen. Delores G Kelley
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/31/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Member-Regulated Cooperatives - Establishment (Rural Broadband for the Eastern Shore Act of 2020) [SB-540]
[Telecommunications ]
[Technology and Innovation ]
[Small Business ]
[Community Development ]
[Economic Development ]
Establishing a process for a cooperative to operate as a member-regulated cooperative in a certain area; specifying that the Public Service Commission does not have jurisdiction over a member-regulated cooperative, subject to certain exceptions; prohibiting a member-regulated cooperative from exercising a certain power of condemnation for the sole purpose of providing broadband Internet service; specifying certain provisions of law that apply to a member-regulated cooperative; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mary Elizabeth Carozza
Hearing 2/25 At 1:00 P.m. on 01/31/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Public Service Commission - Electric Companies and Electric Cooperatives - Customer Identification [SB-529]
[Energy ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Public Safety ]
Requiring the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations requiring electric companies and electric cooperatives to adopt a method for an electricity supplier enrolling a certain customer to provide certain information to adequately identify the customer without using the customer's account number; requiring the regulations to require that a certain customer enrolling with an electricity supplier may offer certain information as proof of identity under certain circumstances; etc.
Sponsored by: Sen. Brian J. Feldman
Unfavorable Report By Finance; Withdrawn on 02/24/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Electric Industry - Community Choice Energy - Pilot Program [HB-561]
[Energy ]
[Telecommunications ]
[Consumer Protection ]
[Community Development ]
[Public Safety ]
Applying certain laws regarding net energy metering and community solar generating systems to customers served by a community choice aggregator; altering the circumstances under which counties and municipal corporations may act as an aggregator; establishing a certain Community Choice Aggregator Pilot Program; establishing a process by which, beginning on October 1, 2022, a certain county may form a community choice aggregator; requiring a certain county to develop a plan and give notice of a certain aggregation plan; etc.
Sponsored by: Rep. Kathleen M Dumais
Referred Finance on 03/15/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Utility Regulation - Consideration of Climate and Labor [HB-531]
[Energy ]
[Labor, Jobs, Employment ]
[Climate Change ]
[Environmental ]
[Public Health ]
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. Dana M Stein
Hearing 2/27 At 1:00 P.m. (economic Matters) on 02/05/2020
Spread the world
Maryland 2020 Regular Session
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Solar Energy - Municipal Electric Utilities [HB-494]
[Energy ]
[Environmental ]
Altering the percentage, to 2.5% in 2020 and later, of a municipal electric utility's renewable energy portfolio standard that must be derived from solar energy.
Sponsored by: Sen. Mike McKay
Unfavorable Report By Economic Matters on 03/12/2020