Office of People's Counsel budget edges up as caseload and consumer calls surge; counsel flags PJM cost-allocation concerns

The Office of People's Counsel (OPC) will see its operating budget rise by $35,000 (about 0.4%) to $8.3 million in fiscal 2026, a budget analyst told the Transportation and the Environment Subcommittee as OPC staff described a larger, more complex caseload and record-high consumer contacts.

Saviksha Pujell, a budget analyst, presented the Department of Legislative Services review and said 53% of the OPC budget — about $4.4 million — is for personal expenses and 40% — about $3.3 million — is for outside legal services. Pujell said OPC has 27 authorized positions for fiscal 2026, unchanged from fiscal 2025, and that the agency’s workload and related costs account for the modest budget increase.

The budget update came amid testimony from David Lapp, Maryland People's Counsel, about sharply higher case volumes and growing complexity of matters before state and federal regulators. "Our case participation levels reached 288 cases in fiscal 2024 — an increase of 53 cases, or 22.6% from fiscal 2023," Lapp said. He added that OPC recorded 37 favorable decisions in those matters and that the consumer-assistance phone line handled 19,307 calls in…