Maryland bill would tighten STRIDE rules to prioritize safety, limit accelerated gas spending

Sponsor (bill presenter) opened the Economic Matters Committee hearing by introducing House Bill 419, the "ratepayer protection act," saying the measure would revise the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (STRIDE) law to require utilities and the Public Service Commission to prioritize safety, assess cost‑effective alternatives and provide customer notice before accelerated recovery charges are assessed.

The bill’s supporters told the committee the current STRIDE mechanism has driven large, rapid utility spending that is already appearing on customer bills. "Stride reform is the single most important action Maryland can take to address the massive utility customer bills that folks are facing today," said David Lapp, representing the Office of People's Counsel. Lapp and other advocates said utilities have spent billions under STRIDE and will spend many billions more unless the process is reformed.

Why it matters: Backers — including the Office of People's Counsel, Maryland PERG and consumer advocates — argued that STRIDE, enacted in 2013 as a safety-focused financing mechanism, gave utilities…