Public Service Commission - Membership - Alterations

SB 816 increases the Maryland Public Service Commission from five to seven commissioners and establishes specific geographic residency requirements for each position. The seven commissioners must represent: Western Maryland (one commissioner), Southern Maryland (one), the Eastern Shore (one), Central Maryland (two), and the Capital Region (two). The bill requires the Commission to submit a slate of nominees for two new seats (Western and Southern Maryland) to the Governor by August 1, 2025, and changes the process for appointing the Commission's Chair from among its members. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, with no retroactive application.