ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk today announced the Utility RELIEF Act, a comprehensive legislative package to lower energy bills for Marylanders. The legislation—which incorporates elements from the governor’s proposed Lower Bills and Local Energy Act as well as key priorities from the Senate and House—reflects a unified strategy between the Moore-Miller Administration and the Maryland General Assembly to generate more energy in the state and hold big utility companies accountable while saving Maryland families at least $150 on their energy bills every year. “Marylanders deserve energy bills they can afford. But because of the Trump-Vance administration’s actions and failures by regional operators like PJM, too many families are seeing skyrocketing utility costs—and that is unacceptable,” said Governor Moore. “That is why we are taking action where we can: holding utility companies accountable, moving faster to build new energy generation, and delivering $100 million to lower energy bills for Maryland families. While Washington keeps making life harder for working people, we are staying focused on the issues that matter—lowering costs, making Maryland more affordable, and protecting Maryland families.” “Fundamentally, the legislative package being announced today is about maximizing savings for working families in the midst of a historic increase in energy consumption in a tightening energy generation market,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson. “If the measure of a government is how it supports those most in need, Maryland will lead the way both in its targeting of assistance and the ease with which eligible residents can access it.” “Our Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act will provide Maryland ratepayers at least $150 in annual savings while holding utilities and data centers accountable, strengthening the long-term reliability of our energy system, incentivizing new generation, and reaffirming our commitment to achieving our clean energy goals,” said House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk. “Savings from this bill will make life more affordable for all Marylanders. We are delivering on our affordability, accountability, and opportunity agenda.” As energy costs continue to rise nationwide, the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act mobilizes more than $200 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to secure local clean energy generation, modernize Maryland’s electric grid, and lower energy bills. The legislative package reduces Marylanders’ average monthly energy bills by an estimated $150 annually, and introduces measures to hold major energy users, like data centers, accountable to the people of Maryland. Key actions the Utility RELIEF Act takes to lower energy costs and protect Maryland residents: - Energy Bill Relief: The legislation allocates $100 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to refund Maryland ratepayers to offset utility fees and lower energy bills.
- Local Clean Energy Generation: To promote local energy generation, the legislation establishes an annual bidding process for renewable energy sources using Alternative Compliance Payments. Maryland Energy Administration, along with the Public Service Commission, will establish the program and leverage $100 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to support clean energy projects.
- Grid Modernization: To modernize Maryland’s transmission infrastructure, the legislation requires utility companies to prioritize advanced transmission technologies and grid-enhancing technologies. These modern technologies are designed to increase the capacity and efficiency of existing transmission lines—increasing reliability and driving down costs for ratepayers.
- Holding Utilities Accountable: The legislation mandates greater oversight of federally approved projects totaling $3.5 billion in actual and projected spending, and caps what utilities can recover for supervisor pay. The legislation also eliminates the current 0.5% Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) participation incentive that allows utilities to collect additional profits and mandates that utility companies join Maryland’s RTO, PJM Interconnection. The mandate will promote accountability for utilities, saving Maryland families an estimated $20 million annually.
- Data Center Guardrails: The bill builds on the Next Generation Energy Act by requiring data centers to pay for their own energy infrastructure upgrades and protects Maryland families. These guardrails aim to hold data centers accountable for responsible development—neutralizing their impact on the grid and Marylanders’ energy bills.
- Protecting Working Families: The legislation streamlines existing energy assistance programs to cut red tape for working families who urgently need State support, while helping fund the Public Service Commission’s new Limited Income Discounted Rate program, which will save eligible customers up to $1,400 per year.
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