County introduces expedited bill to enable community choice aggregation

Montgomery County leaders introduced expedited Bill 27-25 on July 15 to establish Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), a program that would allow the county to procure electricity on behalf of residents and businesses while utilities continue to deliver service. Council President Kate Stewart, who introduced the measure, said the bill "would amend the law regarding environmental sustainability and electricity supply to establish community choice aggregation and set forth certain requirements of the CCA's operation." A public hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.

The bill, as explained by Stewart, has three parts: establishing a community choice aggregator consistent with state law, setting operational requirements for the CCA, and generally amending the county’s environmental sustainability and electricity-supply provisions. Stewart told colleagues the CCA would prioritize "sustainability, cost efficiency, stability, and predictability" in supplying electricity and cited the county climate action plan’s identification of CCA as one of the most impactful local measures to reach climate goals.

Council members from multiple districts asked to be listed as cosponsors during the introduction, signaling broad initial support. Staff clarified that the Maryland General Assembly previously authorized a CCA pilot for Montgomery County in 2021 and that this bill implements county-level program rules required by state statute.

The introduction itself does not change existing service arrangements; it begins the local process that would allow the county to solicit or aggregate supply options for customers if and when the program is implemented. Council staff and sponsors flagged the bill as a response to recent federal policy and funding changes, uncertainty in energy prices, and growing demand for options to stabilize energy costs for residents.

Next steps: the council scheduled the public hearing and will return to the bill in September, when public testimony and committee consideration can shape final language and implementation requirements.