Public Service Commission approves debt authorizations, project extensions and several energy-allocation requests

The Public Service Commission on Sept. 3 granted a series of routine and contested items at its administrative meeting, approving operational‑deadline extensions for community solar projects, authorizing utilities to issue long‑term debt, and approving energy‑allocation systems for two apartment buildings. The commission also approved its annual procurement improvement report and granted a waiver of a penalty assessed to American Sugar Refining Inc.

Commission staff opened the meeting by noting an administrative consent item: a change in ownership notification filed by Mountain Communications LLC, doing business as Procom, and Declaration Networks Group Inc. The commission recorded a unanimous vote to note the transfer.

Staff then presented three separate requests to extend operational deadlines under the community solar rules. Michael Dean, staff attorney, described the Bittinger LLC project as a 2‑megawatt community solar project in Garrett County and recommended a 16‑month waiver of the operational deadline to Dec. 1, 2026. The commission granted the waiver. Staff next recommended a limited waiver for ICFTSMD Solar LLC’s fully constructed Mill Station project in Baltimore County, to Nov. 30, 2025; the commission approved that extension. Finally, staff recommended and the commission approved an extension to July 27, 2026 for a 1.5‑megawatt Wicomico County project filed by Wicomico Quantico Solar 1 LLC.

The commission also considered two utilities’ requests to issue long‑term debt. Staff recommended, and the commission approved, an application from Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) authorizing up to $1.1 billion in principal amount of long‑term secured or unsecured debt for general corporate purposes, refunding short‑term debt and financing capital requirements. The commission also approved Delmarva Power and Light Company’s request to authorize up to $700 million in long‑term debt; staff had found the filing compliant with the cited COMAR and Public Utility Article provisions.

Separately, the commission approved applications to use energy allocation systems that would allow building owners to allocate a portion of tenants’ electric costs based on usage. Staff recommended approval for Harbor Point Parcel 4 Development LLC’s requested system for a 312‑unit building at 1402 Pointe Street, Baltimore, and for Strathmore Square Building 1 Owner LLC’s system for a 220‑unit building in Bethesda; both requests were granted.

The commission voted to approve the 2025 procurement improvement process report from technical staff, which included minor changes to product definitions and bid schedules and an optional appendix addressing ISDA protocol adoption for certain large financial counterparties. Staff told commissioners there were no outstanding objections to the proposals in this year’s report.

Votes at a glance (select items) • Approval of minutes from Aug. 27, 2025 — approved unanimously. • Consent notice: transfer of ownership (Mountain Communications LLC d/b/a Procom and Declaration Networks Group Inc.) — noted unanimously. • Bittinger LLC — waiver of operational deadline to Dec. 1, 2026 — approved unanimously. • ICFTSMD Solar LLC (Mill Station) — limited waiver to Nov. 30, 2025 — approved unanimously. • Wicomico Quantico Solar 1 LLC — waiver to July 27, 2026 — approved unanimously. • Pepco — authority to issue up to $1,100,000,000 in long‑term debt — approved unanimously. • Delmarva Power and Light Company — authority to issue up to $700,000,000 in long‑term debt — approved unanimously. • Harbor Point Parcel 4 Development LLC — approval to use energy allocation system for 1402 Pointe Street — approved unanimously. • Strathmore Square Building 1 Owner LLC — approval to use energy allocation system for 10511–10513 Strathmore Hall Street — approved unanimously. • 2025 procurement improvement process report — approved unanimously.

The commission adjourned after completing administrative business. Two items from the meeting drew extended discussion and were recorded separately in the commission’s minutes and in separate articles: Potomac Edison’s vehicle‑to‑grid electric school bus pilot (taken under advisement for a written order) and the American Sugar penalty waiver (granted in full).