[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6741195,"mediaKeyId","3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded","parentId",3848070,"title","PSC accepts Empower Maryland surcharge filings; Potomac Edison's amortization method left in place","audioSeconds",551,"startMs",957000,"endMs",1508000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded&start=957&end=1508","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded/thumbnail_957000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6741195/Maryland/PSC-accepts-Empower-Maryland-surcharge-filings-Potomac-Edisons-amortization-method-left-in-place","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6741195-de4cf6701880b75ba7075ee66245d8a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054216&Signature=TCECaV0qK3ssivKRmdQohC4nDSx3ztyHzO-cJLYKvHgJRnyP5Enklt9mHVTPIDk30HaikP3wpvvLReY3zrLZWfBnFsXVnI9oRNUv7MyoBEPpQz3iiFTj6tEC9p2Mzpin6PG8QMIeKpmIEZUNJkjVo6vqUklHbaeDcDXPIwEqtG-VJQzZ0UfxapDOKXIgBxfbU~oixpaKy7IuZTWyu5GZzv7Lq8n2tQZt7xmmqKzPHYGzEyT1I0beGPbN9yEndOAACYk1n4J~v2STyfy08ay3IbsgXsvEmU-PsNcIFjIj8k6hDg9V2iMSi~HKUmqJM4xjuZL62wkMtJX0uiQ1KdmW0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Service Commission, MD","date","2025-01-18T12:35:40.147Z","article","The Public Service Commission accepted updates to Empower Maryland surcharge tariffs from Delmarva Power & Light, Pepco, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), Potomac Edison and Baltimore Gas & Electric with the effective dates recommended in the filings.

Staff reviewed the companies' proposed 2025 surcharges and noted a correction needed to Delmarva's nonresidential surcharge table; staff said the corrected numbers are reflected in its bucksheet. For Potomac Edison's filing staff evaluated three amortization methods (PE's historical computational method, and methods used by Washington Gas Light and PHI) and recommended acceptance of PE's method because it minimized short-run rate impacts given PE's planned full expensing shift in 2026.

The Office of People's Counsel had previously flagged concerns about Potomac Edison's amortization approach. An OPC representative told commissioners that, after review, OPC did not support changing PE's methodology now because doing so would raise 2025 rates and shift costs to later years. Potomac Edison agreed to correct certain informational errors in the record if ordered by the commission.

Commissioners accepted the filings for filing with effective dates of Jan. 1, 2025 (and July 1, 2025 for Potomac Edison item 9, per the record), and, for Potomac Edison, directed an informational filing responsive to OPC's request within a reasonable time. Votes were unanimous on the filings presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Administrative Meeting - 12/18/2024","oneSentenceSummary","The Public Service Commission on Dec. 18 accepted multiple utilities' Empower Maryland surcharge filings for 2025 and left Potomac Edison's amortization methodology in place after staff and intervenor review.","taxTitle","Public Service Commission, Independent Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Maryland","taxId",80344,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6741189,"PSC takes CCSA's community solar market-waiver request under advisement; parties discuss queue transition",1622,6318000,7940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded&start=6318&end=7940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded/thumbnail_6318000.jpg","/articles/6741189/Maryland/PSC-takes-CCSAs-community-solar-market-waiver-request-under-advisement-parties-discuss-queue-transition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6741189-f947327fcf5a0327020bd729d7f8ff7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054216&Signature=Ur6hTe7o43WFBgt78I78-L9Q4F~eNZsdqvFx-H9hFrD4w-KwCD7mwWbi5~z2ufMx8ICJE74m5ghtWiDpaX0abLt0Y25X15eum5XBDh4xSykzKaI0lIsTIzxrf7tfuBEW~CvS1BnJLkbjYgTqkArtff~Ru4mK76F2Z6pzSoE24LO3SN7igERXG7J9eI3vepxcgQrx4wFPSlbAiZT547nMujkk4YmwiA2KBTjLmct4-hoM0anO6rFON2KqITt1P7~yq-6ZV~9B88BRnGmtEnlVMAuQqL6egS8p64OLhZaoPuw00XDRguClgBtZYVY5x6OqTfwXsiG4JAw87rNEweLuPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission took under advisement a petition from the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) seeking a market waiver of portions of the pilot community solar regulations to allow projects and applications received after Jan. 1 to be treated consistent with elements of the proposed permanent program during the regulatory transition.

Staff recommended a limited approach to ease the industry's transition to the permanent program and told the commission that although the permanent regulations were published in the Maryland Register on Dec. 13, they had not completed final administrative steps. Staff said a waiver could reduce industry uncertainty while the formal rulemaking process completes.

Several utilities, led by Exelon companies, opposed broad waiver relief, arguing that the Administrative Procedures Act mandates formal rule adoption procedures and that the commission need not adopt interim regulations because the statute and the published permanent regulations already provide mechanisms to carry wait-listed pilot projects into the permanent queue once the permanent program begins. Exelon counsel said the statute preserves queue positions for pilot projects and that the permanent regulations address transition mechanics.

CCSA and developers asked the commission to permit utilities to publicly document reserved or to-be-reserved queue positions for projects applying between Jan. 1 and the final effective date so developers would have the certainty to proceed with financing and other development steps. The commission said it would consider a narrowly tailored directive that allows utilities to prepare a permanent-program queue and to accept applications for future conversion into permanent-program positions and will issue a written disposition after additional consideration.","The Public Service Commission took under advisement a Coalition for Community Solar Access request to waive parts of the pilot rules and discussed options to let projects filed after Jan. 1 retain or secure a permanent-program queue position once the permanent regulations take effect.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6741190,"PSC extends PHI smart charge management and allows reallocation to repair utility-owned public chargers amid reliability concerns",1406,2884000,4290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded&start=2884&end=4290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded/thumbnail_2884000.jpg","/articles/6741190/Maryland/PSC-extends-PHI-smart-charge-management-and-allows-reallocation-to-repair-utility-owned-public-chargers-amid-reliability-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6741190-cc649045d3eb8cfcc498a2ece22b1f93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054216&Signature=WSHUzGTCbkP2Q3BKBJ5EjnoJxGID5Pxn7J~nKGKxXhIDuFTp44beKBeUQhXPTxTHPzzN44L47neEtoT7K3CQbtTftJNvdf98T6U3-I0XP2XVGTbECZp0R5zBrMSVQuiTZ4GEWBXkE9mK0uhaDmbwCZyKVaCOT4rZrdqG4NU8LhZjJa~XK1D1M~8qLnTTERoO4UMU0aKV-WhSiIpqQ~IkVVYtmvIxsjoWX0mEMFWU~I5UscBeImrM5WG5eBYN7Hc3aCYAzt-Jdwm2~tziXpxGeFNveWJWmKmaRWLKS50t9xy1HGmfir83-LovbxZsWGzyZFh8O--F3OzRZ6jCrn-Z5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission voted Dec. 18 to allow Pepco and Delmarva Power & Light to extend Smart Charge Management (SCM) enrollment for 12 months and to reallocate unspent public EV charging funds to repair and replace existing utility-owned public chargers.

Drew McAuliffe of commission staff said PHI's semiannual report requested reopening the SCM program to new applicants through Dec. 31, 2025, and to use remaining public-charger budgets to replace and repair offline equipment. Staff supported the extension and reallocation, saying it would enroll an estimated 3,500 customers and that replacing broken chargers would preserve reliability and public confidence in EV charging.

Public commenter Lanny Hartman, an EV driver and participant in the EV work group, documented multiple utility-owned sites that were entirely offline for months, described poor navigation/app reporting and low PlugShare ratings for some stations, and asked whether replacement spending would fix ongoing reliability problems. \"I'm not convinced that this is gonna solve the problem,\" Hartman said of the planned replacements, and urged case-by-case evaluation.

PHI counsel Taylor Beckham said the companies are not seeking additional funds but want to reallocate unspent Phase 1 monies to improve uptime and meet the program's 97% uptime requirement. She said some data and IT upgrades are needed before automatic enrollment into EV-only time-of-use rates can be implemented for SCM enrollees.

Commissioners pressed utilities on reporting cadence and accuracy of status data used by apps and vehicle navigation. PHI said reliability-reporting templates are being developed in an EV working group and that companies will provide more frequent data to staff. After discussion and public comment, the commission approved the requested extension and reallocation; votes were recorded as aye by all commissioners.","The Public Service Commission on Dec. 18 approved a 12-month extension of Smart Charge Management enrollment for Pepco and Delmarva and authorized reallocation of remaining public-charging funds to repair and replace utility-owned chargers, citing persistent outages and reliability concerns.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6741192,"PSC approves Washington Gas's 2025 STRIDE-3 project list, asks for project-level paving cost spreadsheet",872,2006000,2878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded&start=2006&end=2878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded/thumbnail_2006000.jpg","/articles/6741192/Maryland/PSC-approves-Washington-Gass-2025-STRIDE-3-project-list-asks-for-project-level-paving-cost-spreadsheet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6741192-fe97b98b96da0ab7fbf584048c952dbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054216&Signature=jh8y8fd5uj3smycGevk4IEOLQaIARFpnXzgsTREXutAzFwMhBhSIsH~Mjeaxb9jmBQRFSbjzEz3FPMA-BF8ZQqPg1V8hAZE6HlKHKpFAasUsuLRlsxrH8Ksgvrs3GCVi7dm5qTXA8YP6kh9bv8w~7j3DVfLiteqmfdIZOQEwPgqEwo9x76pfD16J95JHVDvUaL8C8tBM5xohQUZa-Tl9aM3kKTLApyn6eZJKlCBeWFEuf1xa4LkLpvoC4wJResFeMAipVoDmNvBNfZFv6Dsojuub9rG810U4QKYtN5st3pvAkRHyZA2GuVVWDl5R969OQCEaC2u6JNgxkH~mhbHs~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Staff presented Washington Gas's calendar-year 2025 STRIDE-3 project list and recommended approval at the Dec. 18 meeting. The filing includes 157 projects across STRIDE programs with a combined estimated cost of roughly $53 million, including carryover projects from 2024.

Staff told the commission it reviewed the projects and calculations and found them consistent with the public utility judge's proposed order requiring a reduction in the five-year program budget. However staff requested the company provide a project-by-project paving-cost Excel spreadsheet to support staff's review; staff said it had received an updated paving-cost figure from the company only the day before and asked the commission to order Washington Gas to provide the spreadsheet.

Commissioners pressed staff and the company on whether staff had adequate information to judge prudence at reconciliation. Staff said it was comfortable recommending approval of the 2025 list while continuing to seek the more granular paving-cost data and expected to address any issues at reconciliation.

After discussion the commission voted to approve the calendar-year 2025 STRIDE-3 project list and accept the proposed STRIDE surcharge to become effective January 1, 2025.","The commission approved Washington Gas Light Company's calendar-year 2025 STRIDE-3 project list totaling about $53 million and accepted the utility's proposed surcharge, but staff asked the company to provide an updated per-project paving-cost spreadsheet to aid later reconciliation.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6741197,"PSC approves rise in Maryland Department of Disabilities universal service fee to 9' per month",129,736000,865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded&start=736&end=865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3848070-a6b05facfb5cc1600a0c8b8b3e0acded/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6741197/Maryland/PSC-approves-rise-in-Maryland-Department-of-Disabilities-universal-service-fee-to-9-per-month","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6741197-aca26820b15c0d821df8018964840303/orig.mp4?Expires=1771054216&Signature=NwaUCwjSS-9Aot4LuQlhOHZzEC-EX8H8~fWZPSDU90cYztfM6nEgXShtaMp2won5V22-ZGDUkc1~dyYXCpoSBxMgAWVzSifyI1g82fD59bmf1FeLkExENh3lQAtpyj6hclQpU4H-4Vv7vIdMVWQUaHVVbzXn9Mr5YuEHuUjsWhpZcXHCVhXzphS-pUKUB9~x0UVRDhrbjjQLSyWlaUxM4gHm3g0Q0Ncmoo0Ngq5V5xOYuyWMngrhKkV7QL3aFg~OAP1c04YsYxfFBP5CZhcd5OJaquKltaTCamRf~k3FO0~UUWr~ox4hK-GaUHjgK2zLaqHCCPs4BO3eKM1wn3M7CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission on Dec. 18 approved an increase in the surcharge paid by subscribers to fund the Maryland Department of Disabilities' Universal Service Trust Fund from 5' to 9' per month, effective July 1, 2025.

Holden Manka of commission staff told commissioners the department estimates FY2025 revenue of $2,750,000 against costs of about $6,146,000, which would reduce the USTF balance to roughly $3.6 million and leave it able to cover about one more year of costs. \"Therefore, staff recommends the commission increase the universal service fee to 9' per month effective on 07/01/2025,\" Manka said.

The programs financed by the fund include the dual-party relay program, purchase of specialized customer telecommunications equipment, distribution of newspapers in an accessible audio format and a senior call-check service and notification program. Manka cited section 7-806(d)(1) of the Human Services Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland as the statutory authority requiring the secretary to certify program costs and the commission to set the surcharge.

Commissioners asked whether department staff were present; none appeared. After brief discussion the panel voted unanimously to adopt staff's recommendation. The increase is intended to equalize estimated revenues and costs and preserve program funding into FY2026; staff told the commission that, if the surcharge remained at 5', MDOD would not be able to fund the programs beginning in FY2027.

The order and docket will include staff's revenue and cost estimates and the effective date for the new surcharge.","The Public Service Commission approved staff's recommendation to raise the Universal Service Trust Fund surcharge to 9' per subscriber per month, effective July 1, 2025, after staff warned the fund would be unable to fully finance programs by fiscal 2027 at the current 5' level.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

PSC accepts Empower Maryland surcharge filings; Potomac Edison's amortization method left in place

PSC takes CCSA's community solar market-waiver request under advisement; parties discuss queue transition

PSC extends PHI smart charge management and allows reallocation to repair utility-owned public chargers amid reliability concerns

PSC approves Washington Gas's 2025 STRIDE-3 project list, asks for project-level paving cost spreadsheet

PSC approves rise in Maryland Department of Disabilities universal service fee to 9' per month