[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6641511,"mediaKeyId","3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460","parentId",3847954,"title","Public Service Commission approves minutes, renewable certification, tariff filings and program approvals","audioSeconds",338,"startMs",403000,"endMs",741000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460&start=403&end=741","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460/thumbnail_403000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641511/Maryland/Public-Service-Commission-approves-minutes-renewable-certification-tariff-filings-and-program-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641511-315d8e2745e50cd2f578a688d328e8bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136608&Signature=fI7B7PHCE1aB9rNWkHuUVeKNQ2EflZXUFbgYv8572FeKkqaQhJSpiRINGQ~6BQuf9~Thqa1bNhokyjSKulkY4AdPnWuiX3S1YVXjOm~OYEqGZ2t2HS5qYzwxpbaoXkhVIlNw2BQtAZIj3u7nMdLWC5FCU7Q0eGmTXt4JhhGM3ezRUjRp7DD4qcSXmPW5hpiS79YARF1WmMdc3dsoygeE9cr9nHlPWcgQoTWrG1sM2gntpIb41L24lcJb~jUn8t6g9gRfmfFfCNj-hYZGao6EYdy2azEedtYBZGveQNSmPNKfD69Sv6a9xUocIf3JOeLD3lz1tlxeHdNuIOXZIKBNSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Public Service Commission, MD","date","2025-05-29T03:35:40Z","article","The Maryland Public Service Commission on May 28 approved the meeting minutes from May 21 and cleared several consent and administrative filings, including a renewable energy facility certification for Dans Mountain Windforce LLC, a deadline extension for the Waypost (Wave Post) solar project, and multiple tariff filings from utilities including Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and Columbia Gas of Maryland, Inc.

Those items were taken and voted on during the administrative portion of the commission's meeting. The approvals were routine filings brought on the consent and administrative agendas and were adopted as moved on the record.

Votes at a glance:

Approve minutes (May 21, 2025)
Chair moved to approve the minutes for the May 21 meeting. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richard recorded “Aye” on the record.

Renewable energy facility certification (Dans Mountain Windforce LLC)
The commission moved to accept the application, issue a renewable energy facility ID certification number, direct the applicant to establish REC accounts with PJM GATS within 30 days of certification, and require notification to the commission within 30 days if application information changes. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richards recorded “Aye.”

Waypost (Wave Post) solar project deadlines (certificate of public convenience and necessity)
The commission granted the applicant's request to extend the construction deadline to Dec. 16, 2027 and the operational deadline to Dec. 16, 2028, and approved an update to the project’s limit of disturbance as described in the filing. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richards recorded “Aye.”

Baltimore Gas & Electric Company tariff filing (SOS / capacity passthrough)
The commission accepted BGE’s tariff provisions for filing with an effective date of June 1, 2025 after a brief note from the Office of People’s Counsel about the passthrough of PJM capacity costs. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richards recorded “Aye.”

Columbia Gas tariff filing (compliance with prior order and rate design)
Staff presented Columbia Gas’s compliance filing and proposed tariff pages following a public utility law judge’s proposed order. The commission accepted the tariff pages for service rendered on or after April 22, 2025. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richard recorded “Aye.”

Columbia Gas — Warmwise low‑income usage reduction program and EE rider
The commission approved Columbia Gas’s Warmwise low‑income weatherization program filing and accepted revised EE rider tariff pages effective May 30, 2025; staff recommended and OPC supported using carryover funds (no surcharge) for the 2025–26 program year and approving a two‑year program cycle subject to reevaluation of the second year’s budget. Commissioner Barbet and Commissioner Richard recorded “Aye.”

How the meeting proceeded
These items were handled largely on the consent and administrative agendas with staff summaries presented on the record, limited questioning by commissioners, and brief comment by the Office of People’s Counsel and affected utilities. Where parties raised questions (for example, OPC’s note about PJM capacity costs in BGE’s SOS filing and OPC’s recommendation that Columbia revise incentives if the commission later disallows incentives for gas appliances), commissioners sought assurances from staff and company representatives and then moved to accept the filings as recommended by staff on the record.

Ending
Several other administrative and informational items on the agenda were discussed at length later in the session; those matters are covered in separate articles in this package.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Administrative Meeting - 05/28/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Maryland Public Service Commission on May 28 approved the May 21 meeting minutes and a set of consent and administrative items, including a renewable energy facility certification for Dans Mountain Windforce LLC, a construction and operation deadline extension for the Waypost (Wave Post) solar project, and several tariff filings and program approvals.","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},6641503,"Commission takes under advisement buy‑back/reconciliation proposals after extended debate over POR, SCB and SB 937",1540,1392000,2932000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460&start=1392&end=2932","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460/thumbnail_1392000.jpg","/articles/6641503/Maryland/Commission-takes-under-advisement-buybackreconciliation-proposals-after-extended-debate-over-POR-SCB-and-SB-937","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641503-d0ce1e8c8e75bcf00f035fd73843e3c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136608&Signature=eahVwvkmlBONDQyEB84L3TR7ybAofRs2RhgI9oj93P~UK3DkSZo6taOry~qEyuBA5-hnvtMyo-yRr0~cvQj0X9szEZEidTWQS6V0SIys~A9A3KtluoJ8xBl9V70m6tYnUcleVcz-Zo56DlCK1BPeVFRKCMdgM-YYumA8TnLQsy6KGUbwALYxJ~fp88P0fVnzS56WiAUUX-1IeEbqCImx7DL4exavuxaxazLwKpTYr3-861Bzoen4fmGcg1wCDc9~FcXyQsyKaHA14PYmLyypNdzQfEUBLqxL~DiK6Air6lJQDI-aFjPvKV1g-TXb9xQoi7D0WT3hAbfSt18t7hDUZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission at its May 28 administrative meeting reviewed annual POR (purchase‑of‑receivables) filings and proposed reconciliation procedures from Potomac Edison, Baltimore Gas & Electric (electric and gas), and Delmarva Power, and heard extended arguments about supplier consolidated billing (SCB), proposed reconciliation mechanics, and the statutory effect of recently passed legislation (referred to in the record as SB 937) that takes effect June 1.

Staff presented POR updates for Potomac Edison, BGE (electric and gas) and Potomac Edison’s request to set residential POR discount rates for the remainder of 2025 and to track POR revenues and expenses through 2026 for final reconciliation filings in 2027. Staff recommended that the commission accept the proposed POR rates and the recommended reconciliation reporting process, and proposed specific tariff language that would (1) note that the residential POR rate ends on Dec. 31, 2025 and (2) describe the final reconciliation process and how any commission‑approved over‑ or under‑recovery would be allocated to suppliers by relative share of 2025 residential POR purchase receivables.

Retail suppliers’ trade representatives and the Retail Energy Supply Association said they do not oppose the rates themselves but asked for clarity and more granularity in how final reconciliations would be calculated and allocated in 2027. Retail suppliers expressed concern about BGE’s ability to track uncollectible costs by individual supplier and said Potomac Edison’s supplier‑level tracking made Potomac Edison’s reconciliation approach easier to review. BGE stated on the record that its POR structure historically socializes uncollectible costs rather than tracking them by supplier and that developing supplier‑level tracking would require process changes and costs.

The Office of People’s Counsel supported staff’s recommendations in the short term but urged the commission to consider whether, if Potomac Edison reports an over‑collection as of Dec. 31, 2026, those funds could be used to offset utilities’ supplier consolidated billing (SCB) implementation costs that ratepayers were asked to front under a prior commission order. Retail suppliers objected to using any POR over‑collection to fund SCB implementation because not all suppliers intend to use SCB and cost causation concerns could arise.

A separate but related, longer debate concerned annual information filings (AIFs) and whether the Next Generation Energy Act (cited in the record as SB 937) prevents parties or the commission from seeking reconciliations after a stated deadline. Staff argued that the statute plainly prohibits reconciliations filed after a deadline and that the statute supersedes the commission's prior orders; staff recommended the commission follow the statute’s plain text. OPC and other parties urged a narrower reading: they said an AIF is an informational comparison distinct from a reconciliation filing and that the commission’s existing order on multiyear plans (order 89482) contemplates an information filing followed, only where warranted, by consolidated and final reconciliations. OPC asked for the opportunity to submit more detailed comments if the commission did not defer consideration; several commissioners said they wanted to take the matter under advisement and hear from colleagues not present at the meeting.

Delmarva Power’s year‑2 annual information filing also was discussed separately. Staff recommended Delmarva credit ratepayers $757,000 (plus carrying costs) as described in staff’s written review and asked the commission to approve the credit and associated tariff no later than May 30. Delmarva confirmed it will provide a refund if the Internal Revenue Service rules that prior tax normalization treatment was not required; the parties agreed the IRS ruling is an external matter the commission should not pre‑decide. OPC pressed for the opportunity to brief whether the company acted prematurely in implementing changes before a final IRS determination; Delmarva said it filed the AIF/tariff now because it viewed the AIF as the next available opportunity and said it will follow IRS guidance when received.

After extended questioning and argument on both the POR mechanics and statutory interpretation, the commission said it would take the matters under advisement to obtain input from commissioners not present and to allow further filings and deliberation.

Ending
Staff’s proposed tariff language and the mechanics for final reconciliations remain under advisement. Parties on multiple sides were invited to submit additional comments; the commission signaled it will issue further guidance or a follow‑up order after receiving input from the absent commissioners and any additional filings.","Staff proposed POR discount rates and a reconciliation reporting process for Potomac Edison, BGE and Delmarva; retail suppliers and the Office of People’s Counsel raised concerns about allocation mechanics and statutory constraints, and the commission took the matters under advisement pending further comment and input from absent commissioners.",{"_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},6641507,"Commission accepts Columbia Gas tariff compliance filing and approves Warmwise low‑income program using carryover funds",482,759000,1241000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460&start=759&end=1241","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3847954-4217784b9c18d82a983afd4895b97460/thumbnail_759000.jpg","/articles/6641507/Maryland/Commission-accepts-Columbia-Gas-tariff-compliance-filing-and-approves-Warmwise-lowincome-program-using-carryover-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641507-35366b2490de4aa6baf6405086e233d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136608&Signature=bpv3wGq2FO3FDj-s5X9SxeIYaInGFjspv-1Yrca3l5RcvGIO-T94HiBicjEmwAexUKudFIkjzBN5NiZ9fjkEGgcrySdzW9FjYEELhgfomMXMTpwgsqms5ge4cBbsFf~OP8nVxhiJs-~72nReRwBfuOXBP3U1RxXwCxYNNaDe66LWDjqqYyHAubF0~ZO9KdPLCymU9X0spDJ33KfnhOTM2L2xtIfji4F0WSeuRsbdZoQ7OF~tl8cLGaIphE9-SOjX5JhlrIARRDhL12JRECpP6r0Mz-Di0Q3wKJ5kbj6MnP9tFj625eVNqcIc-AZDtbOED8sTkHP4RXiFybCfjIcrQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Service Commission accepted Columbia Gas of Maryland Inc.’s revised tariff pages submitted in compliance with commission order number 91621 and approved the utility’s Warmwise low‑income usage‑reduction program and related EE rider for the 2025–26 program year.

Staff told the commission the public utility law judge’s proposed order had directed Columbia to file tariff pages reflecting an increase in natural gas distribution rates of no more than $7,819,559, and that staff accepted the recommended rate design. Staff also reported a revenue requirement figure stated in the record; that figure as read on the record appears inconsistent with the smaller ‘‘increase’’ number and is not further clarified in the transcript.

On the Warmwise program, Columbia proposed to continue the EE rider at $0.00 per therm, which would cause no change to customer bills for the upcoming program year. Staff said Columbia plans to use $73,138 of unspent funds from the 2024–25 program year as the total budget for 2025–26; Columbia forecasts it can weatherize about 15 homes using the carryover funds. Columbia asked for authorization to run a two‑year program cycle and forecasted a $90,000 budget for the 2026–27 program year to weatherize an additional 18 homes, subject to a reevaluation prior to the second year.

The Office of People’s Counsel told the commission it agreed with staff’s recommendation to continue the surcharge at $0 and to use carryover funds, and supported the two‑year cycle if the commission required Columbia to reevaluate the budget before year two. OPC asked that the commission include in any approval a caveat: if the commission decides in the future to end incentives for gas appliances (as OPC has recommended in other dockets), Columbia should revise year‑two program plans to eliminate incentives for gas appliances and refile an updated plan. OPC argued the program’s existing furnace‑replacement subsidies can lock in fossil‑fuel appliance adoption and recommended prioritizing weatherization projects instead of furnace replacement where feasible.

Columbia’s customer outreach lead said the utility will rely on an established weatherization partner (Allegheny HRDC) and already has about 15 customers referred and prescreened for the program. Columbia also noted that crews remain focused on storm restoration in affected towns and that non‑program activity in those areas is paused.

The commission approved Columbia’s tariff pages for service on or after April 22, 2025, and approved the Warmwise program filing and revised EE rider effective May 30, 2025, consistent with staff’s recommendations and the OPC caveat request noted on the record.

Ending
Staff will monitor the program delivery and the company will refile the year‑two program budget for commission review before the 2026–27 program year begins.","Staff presented Columbia Gas of Maryland’s compliance tariff pages and a Warmwise low‑income weatherization proposal. The commission accepted the tariff pages and approved the Warmwise program for 2025–26 using $73,138 in carryover funds, with a proposed two‑year cycle to be reevaluated before year two.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public Service Commission approves minutes, renewable certification, tariff filings and program approvals

Commission takes under advisement buy‑back/reconciliation proposals after extended debate over POR, SCB and SB 937

Commission accepts Columbia Gas tariff compliance filing and approves Warmwise low‑income program using carryover funds