Latest news with #MarylandPublicServiceCommission
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed solar farm could be largest of its kind in Maryland
WESTERNPORT — A solar farm proposed near Westernport could become the largest of its kind in Maryland. REV Renewables, which recently completed the construction of a 26-megawatt solar facility 3 miles south of Frostburg, will undertake the project, if it's approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission. The company, headquartered in New York, owns and operates energy facilities from California to Maine. A virtual public hearing about the project was held Tuesday evening by the PSC. The developer applied for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, which grants an applicant the authority to construct an energy generating station, in December. Micheal Svedeman, the senior director of project development for REV, gave a presentation about the project. 'We work closely with local communities throughout those (projects),' he said. REV hopes to have the project completed by late 2027. The project, known as the Jade Meadow III Solar Project, would be 300 megawatts and have two arrays. The solar panels would be primarily located in Garrett County, with a portion of the new transmission line run through Allegany County. Located just northwest of Westernport, the facility will straddle the border between the two counties on the eastern slope of Big Savage Mountain. 'It is one of the largest solar projects to be proposed in Maryland to date,' Svedeman said. According to REV, it will be able to power the equivalent of 42,500 homes annually. The construction and upkeep of the facility will also create about 350 or more jobs. Just like the facility south of Frostburg, the solar fields will be built on former coal mining lands. 'The majority of the parcels have been historically both strip and underground mined for coal,' Svedeman said. REV plans to work with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to 'revegetate' the land with native pollinator seed mixes. 'We view this as a good use for historically mined land,' Svedeman said. Jason Harper was the only local resident to comment on the project. 'I live in the area and I'm looking forward to it,' he said. Written comments can be sent electronically at Comments can also be sent by mail to Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul St., 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. All comments should reference Case No. 9769. Additional public hearings for the project will be held Aug. 4.
CBS News
07-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland lawmakers pass bill that aims to lower utility costs
Maryland lawmakers have passed a bill aimed at reducing utility costs statewide. The Next Generation Energy Act, passed the Senate, 36-10 on the final day of the legislative session. The bill now heads to Governor Wes Moore's desk for his signature. The bill requires gas pipeline spending to prioritize safety and cost-effectiveness, directs the Public Service Commission to reject multi-year rate hikes that don't demonstrate customer benefit, and prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for certain expenses like trade association memberships and private planes. Key provisions include requiring public service companies to demonstrate the reasonableness of using internal versus contractual labor and protect residential customers from financial risks associated with large load customers connecting to the electric system. The bill authorizes multiyear rate plans under certain circumstances, while mandating that investor-owned electric companies submit plans for energy storage devices that could help stabilize the grid and potentially lower costs. It also requires electric companies to procure zero-emission credits, promoting cleaner energy sources. For gas companies, the legislation allows for cost recovery for eligible infrastructure replacement projects while ensuring that necessary upgrades don't lead to excessive rate increases. Maryland residents and leaders alike have publicly challenged BGE's energy rate hikes. In December 2023, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a multi-year rate increase plan , authorizing BGE to implement nearly $408 million in rate increases over three years with average year-one bill increases of $4.08. In January 2025, BGE increased gas bills by 9% and electric bills by 7%. However, some BGE customers said they saw extreme price increases, particularly during the winter months. In February, the Baltimore City Council passed a resolution calling on state regulators to stop BGE's planned 2026 utility rate hikes. Last month, City Council President Zeke Cohen led the community walk, going door to door to collect signatures on a petition that calls for the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to stop BGE's planned 2026 utility rate hikes .
CBS News
28-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland senate advances bill aimed at reducing energy costs
The Maryland Senate has advanced a proposed bill aimed at reducing energy costs for Maryland residents. It's a win for residents and state leaders who have been frustrated by recent energy price hikes. The bill, which combines elements of the Ratepayer Protection Act and Ratepayer Freedom Act with the Next Generation Energy Act, now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Final approval from both chambers is needed by April 7. The legislation would require the Maryland Public Service Commission to reject multi-year rate hikes that don't "demonstrate a definite cost-savings to consumers." It also prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for certain trade association memberships and private planes. The Ratepayer Protection Act, introduced by Maryland lawmakers earlier this year, aims to address BGE rate increases that have been affecting homeowners and businesses. The bill would require gas companies to prioritize identifying and addressing leaks rather than raising customer rates for pipeline spending. BGE's gas delivery rates have more than tripled since 2010 , while the company's profits increased from $147 million in 2010 to $485 million in 2023, according to the Office of the People's Counsel. The Baltimore City Council has expressed support for the Ratepayer Protection Act and planned to hold public hearings addressing high utility costs. Marylanders have struggled with significant energy bill increases, with some reporting $200 jumps between billing cycles. BGE spokesperson Nick Alexopolus said that planned price hikes beginning January 1st should have averaged about $7.77 , with customers expected to see roughly a $26 increase in their monthly bills by June. One Baltimore woman told WJZ she received a bill of $700 for a one-bedroom home, while a restaurant owner in Butcher's Hill said he saw increases of more than $1,000 over several months. BGE said the bill increases were due to distribution costs (the portion going directly to BGE), a spike in natural gas prices, and an increase in "Empower Maryland" fees set by the state. Maryland Governor Wes Moore told CBS News Baltimore that "the General Assembly needs to provide relief to ratepayers, while also addressing long-term structural problems creating low energy supply in the state." On Thursday, Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen and other leaders held a community walk in East Baltimore to get feedback on the rising Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) utility bills. City leaders are collecting signatures on a petition that calls for the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to stop BGE's planned 2026 utility rate hikes .
CBS News
10-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
BGE customer saw lowest number of service interruptions in history in 2024
BGE says its customers experienced the fewest electric service interruptions in company history in 2024, the company said Monday. The average customer experienced just 0.63 interruptions in 2024, the lowest rate on record, BGE said. Since 2011, the company has reduced the number of electric outages by 45 percent and outage duration by 58 percent. During a windstorm on February 16, BGE said it restored 100,0000 out of 130,000 customers who had lost power. 56 hours after the storm, 99% of outages had been restored. Smart grid technologies prevented an additional 230,000 potential outages during that event, BGE said. BGE said it's infrastructure investments align with Maryland's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, which will require increased electrification. The company is installing smart automation equipment, replacing outdated technologies to accommodate solar energy and electric vehicle charging, and conducting vegetation management to protect power lines. BGE and rate hikes BGE rate hikes have been a recent complaint among customers in the Baltimore area, with some Baltimore City residents noting monthly increases of more than $200. Last month, the Baltimore City Council passed a resolution last month urging the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) to halt BGE's planned 2026 utility rate hikes. BGE spokesperson Nick Alexopulos attributed rising costs to multiple factors, including increased usage from colder weather, and a 30% spike in natural gas prices. The company also raised its distribution rates by 9% for gas and 7% for electricity, changes approved by state regulators. BGE said its improvements support Maryland's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, though the state's "Empower Maryland" energy efficiency program has also contributed to higher bills - according to Alexopulos.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
187 petitions to intervene in Piedmont powerline project were filed by Monday
The Maryland Public Service Commission received 187 'petitions to intervene' by Monday in the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a proposed 70-mile high-voltage transmission line through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties. The petitions were filed by property owners, elected officials and nonprofits in each of the affected counties. A petition to intervene with the Maryland Public Service Commission allows individuals or entities to become a formal participant, enabling them to participate in the legal process, present evidence and influence the outcome. The original deadline to file was Monday, but it has been extended to Feb. 24. The Public Service Enterprise Group has been contracted by PJM, the organization that operates and plans Maryland's electric grid, to build the $424 million power line. The Public Service Commission is expected to hold public hearings allowing those who filed the petitions to comment on the project. The commission, the state agency that regulates public utilities, has the authority under the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity statute to make the final decision. A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity provides authority to construct or modify a new generating station or high-voltage transmission lines. That means the Public Service Enterprise Group must apply for the certificate to begin construction of the power line. Carroll County Times | Ready hopes two eminent domain bills will help Carroll residents with Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project opposition Carroll County Times | Carroll County files petition to intervene in Piedmont powerline project Carroll County Times | FOX45: 'We are planning with blinders on.' Officials respond as Piedmont power line debate continues Carroll County Times | Carroll lawmakers plan to support statewide measures to hamper power line project Carroll County Times | 'No clearly superior alternatives': In PSEG's application, company says power line through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties is best option The Maryland Public Service Commission's case number 9773 lists the names of property owners, elected officials, county representatives and nonprofits that submitted a petition to intervene. It goes on for 21 pages. The listed names include Carroll County Government, the Office of the County Attorney for Frederick County, Sierra Club, former Maryland Sen. David Brinkley, Baltimore County, residential developers and the Maryland Farm Bureau, in partnership with the Frederick County Farm Bureau, Carroll County Farm Bureau and Baltimore County Farm Bureau. In Carroll County, Baugher's Farm, 1015 Baugher Road in Westminster, is listed. Dwight Baugher, president of Baugher Enterprises, Inc. lives on the farm property. The MPRP line will pass over the farm's pond, which is 800 feet from Baugher's front porch, the petition states. 'The lucrative agrotourism businesses of Baugher Enterprises have become an integral part of Carroll County economics,' the petition states. 'Now, however, the fate of the farm's businesses is being jeopardized by the MPRP powerline.' Have a news tip? Contact Sherry Greenfield at sgreenfield@ 240-315-7029.
