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

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.