On September 3, 2025, the Maryland Public Service Commission convened to discuss the 9761 Drive Act and the associated pilot programs aimed at enhancing the state's virtual power plant initiatives. The meeting highlighted significant concerns regarding the scale of these pilot programs, particularly in relation to the statutory cap of 2% of available peak capacity.

Delegates Frazier, Hidalgo, and Wilson submitted a filing expressing apprehensions about the current utilization of only 0.6% of the 2% cap. This raised questions about whether the existing pilot structure is sufficient to gather the necessary data for informed decision-making in the future. The commission members debated whether to increase the cap to better align with statutory requirements, suggesting a phased approach to ensure that utilities can demonstrate their technical capabilities before fully committing to higher targets.

The discussion emphasized the importance of utilities providing detailed reports on their ability to implement these programs effectively. The commission expressed cautious optimism about the potential success of the virtual power plant initiative, contingent upon the utilities meeting their recruitment goals and effectively integrating the pilot programs into their existing planning processes.

Concerns were raised about the historical challenges of pilot programs meeting their recruitment objectives, with past experiences indicating that participation often falls short. The commission underscored the need for comprehensive data collection to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs and ensure that they can attract and retain participants.

As the meeting concluded, the commission acknowledged the importance of integrating the pilot programs into broader system planning efforts. This integration is seen as crucial for achieving the desired adoption levels and ensuring that the programs can deliver tangible benefits to Maryland residents.

The discussions from this meeting set the stage for future evaluations of the virtual power plant programs, with the commission poised to make decisions based on the data and progress reported by the utilities in the coming months.