PSC staff recommends accepting 2025–26 Standard Offer Service bid results; no formal vote recorded

Commission staff recommended that the Public Service Commission accept the results of the Jan. 13, 2025 Standard Offer Service (SOS) bid day, saying the process was open, competitive and followed the commission—s rules. Staff also entered two documents into the evidentiary record, but the transcript does not record a formal commission vote to accept the bid results.

Frank Mossberg, a consultant with Bates White, LLC, told the commission that he and his firm served as the commission—s technical monitor for the 2025 SOS request for proposals and "would recommend that you accept the results of this past Monday's bid day." Mossberg said the bidding met four criteria: the process was open, fair and transparent; competition was robust; prices were consistent with market conditions; and the RFP and commission orders were followed.

Commission staff summarized bid-day results and estimated bill impacts. Drew McAuliffe, director of the commission—s electricity division, said staff—s report covered bids received for residential and Type 2 service for Potomac Edison, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and Delmarva Power and Light. McAuliffe summarized staff—s bill-impact estimates: Potomac Edison residential customers— average total bills are estimated to rise 4.4%, about $85 per year, with the SOS portion rising 7.1%. For spring 2025 compared with spring 2024, McAuliffe reported estimated average total bill increases and seasonal SOS rate changes by utility: Potomac Edison total bills up about 1.8%–2.2% and SOS rates down 21.7% from winter to spring; BGE total bills up about 5.9%–11.5% and SOS rates down 17.1%–17.6%; Delmarva total bills up about 24.3%–28.3% and SOS rates down 17.8%–19%; PEPCO total bills up about 7.5%–10.2% and SOS rates down 14.3% from winter to spring.

Mossberg provided competitive metrics: nine bidders participated in the bid day, compared with seven in the comparable June auction; bidders offered about four megawatts for every megawatt needed (a 4:1 ratio); and four winners were selected, compared with five winners in June. He said no winning bids were rejected under the price anomaly threshold (PAT) and that staff independently verified winning bidders and prices.

During testimony staff moved two documents into the record. The commission admitted Mossberg—s sworn direct testimony as staff exhibit 1 and admitted the commission staff—s report on the SOS bidding process and results as staff exhibit 2. The staff report identifies the bidding event date as Jan. 13, 2025.

The hearing concluded after staff testimony; the transcript ends with a chair question about making a motion to accept results and a staff explanation that acceptance would be issued by order. The transcript excerpt provided does not record a motion or roll-call vote accepting the bid results or awarding contracts.