HB 1532 amends Maryland's energy laws to adjust electricity rate structures and efficiency programs. It lowers the qualifying threshold for large commercial/industrial customers to access a specific rate schedule from 100 megawatts to 25 megawatts, directly affecting major energy users like factories and data centers. The bill also changes multiyear rate plan rules to prevent utilities from passing certain costs to customers and requires refunds if actual revenue differs from forecasts. Additionally, it updates energy efficiency program cycles, greenhouse gas target calculations, and definitions for energy resources like "zero-emission credits" used in procurement.
HB 870, the "Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act," requires new construction of large commercial and multifamily residential buildings (over 35,000 square feet) to meet specific energy conservation standards set by the Maryland Department of Labor. The bill defines "covered buildings" to include most large commercial structures and state-owned buildings, but excludes historic properties, schools, manufacturing facilities, and agricultural buildings. It mandates that adopted energy conservation requirements must be at least as stringent as the International Energy Conservation Code, with the state allowed to set stricter standards to improve efficiency. The law also establishes clear definitions for terms like "energy conservation measure" to guide implementation and ensure consistency.
SB 954, the "Affordable Energy Act," requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to mandate investor-owned electric companies to submit resource adequacy plans if the state faces insufficient power supply or a "price stability event" (when PJM capacity market prices exceed projected new generation costs). These plans must prioritize renewable energy investments and address shortages through new generation or storage projects. The bill also allows utilities to recover prudently incurred costs - including stranded investments - for constructing or operating generation facilities, with a minimum annual return tied to federal transmission rates. It directly affects Maryland's investor-owned electric utilities by shaping how they plan for reliability and recover infrastructure costs.
HB 1443 modernizes Maryland's retail electricity and gas market rules. It repeals outdated provisions about energy salesperson licensing and green power marketing, while requiring the Public Service Commission to create an "Energy Choice Multimedia Program" to educate consumers about energy choices and climate commitments. Key changes include new requirements for energy suppliers to submit vendor lists to the Commission, updated license renewal processes, and added due process protections before license actions. The bill directly affects electricity/gas suppliers, energy vendors, and residential consumers through these regulatory updates.
HB 1217 modifies Maryland's building energy standards by adding specific exemptions for certain covered buildings. It exempts facilities housing "permanent sensitive compartmented information facilities" (like military or government sites) and excludes energy use related to sterilization and emergency backup power in healthcare, laboratories, and similar facilities from emissions targets. The bill updates existing requirements that mandate 20% emissions reductions by 2030 and net-zero by 2040 for commercial buildings over 35,000 sq. ft. These changes clarify which building types and energy uses are not subject to the energy use intensity targets under Maryland law.
HB 928 modifies Maryland's requirements for constructing transmission lines over 69,000 volts. It expands the types of transmission lines needing a "certificate of public convenience and necessity" (replacing the previous focus on overhead lines), and requires the Public Service Commission to consider ratepayer costs and environmental impacts when deciding whether to waive this requirement for certain projects. The bill also removes a prior rule that automatically waived certificate requirements for specific overhead lines. This directly affects electric companies, transmission developers, and the Public Service Commission in their approval processes for new or upgraded power lines.
This bill establishes a 5% acreage limit for solar energy projects in Maryland's certified "priority preservation areas" (agricultural lands). Counties can count solar projects on brownfields, school rooftops, or other underutilized land toward this 5% limit, allowing more development in these areas. It also restricts large solar projects (>5MW) from certain residential or growth zones and requires counties to report when the 5% cap is reached. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 824 modifies Maryland’s vehicle licensing laws to allow electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers and distributors to operate as dealers without needing a franchise from another company. It creates a specific pathway for EV manufacturers/distributors that only sell battery-electric or nonfossil-fuel vehicles, provided they have no existing dealers in Maryland, are not affiliated with other manufacturers that have franchised dealers, and meet ownership requirements. The bill limits this special licensing to no more than four entities and requires applicants to prove compliance with these conditions to the state administration. This directly affects EV-focused companies seeking to sell vehicles directly to consumers in Maryland.
HB 1190 exempts new off-grid electricity providers (those starting operations on or after October 1, 2026) from most public utility regulations, including permits and rules under Maryland’s Public Utilities Article. However, these providers must still comply with specific construction requirements under Sections 7-207 and 7-207.1 when building generating facilities. The exemption ends if a provider later connects to the state grid, crosses state lines, or locates within/along roads or rights-of-way. This bill directly affects new off-grid energy operators, not existing providers or grid-connected utilities.
HB 958 prohibits Maryland's Public Service Commission from banning natural gas companies from offering discounts or payment plans for connecting or extending natural gas lines to customer properties. It directly affects natural gas customers who might struggle with upfront connection costs and the public service companies that provide these services. The bill requires the Commission to allow companies to provide these financial options without regulatory restrictions, effective October 1, 2026. This changes how gas connection fees can be structured but does not mandate specific discount levels or create new financial assistance programs.
