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Maryland PSC holds request by Great American Power to relinquish license after OPC raises customer-liability concerns
Summary
The Public Service Commission took under advisement Great American Power LLC’s request to relinquish its Maryland retail electricity supplier license after the Office of People's Counsel warned that outstanding liabilities to former customers may be unresolved; the commission said it will issue a written order.
The Maryland Public Service Commission on Jan. 22 took under advisement Great American Power LLC’s request to relinquish its license to supply electricity in Maryland and said it will issue a written order addressing concerns raised by the Office of People's Counsel (OPC).
OPC told the commission that Great American Power assigned customer contracts to Power Vine Energy Maryland LLC in March 2024 but did not clarify whether liabilities for incidents predating that assignment remain with Great American Power or were fully transferred to Power Vine. OPC recommended that the commission either require Great American Power to demonstrate that any pre-transfer liabilities were fully transferred or require the company to maintain its Maryland license and bond for at least three years to protect residential customers.
Staff recommended cancellation of Great American Power’s license. Andrew Schlicht, speaking for staff, told the commission staff’s recommendation was to cancel the license. OPC’s representative said the issue matters because “if customer complaints arise from incidents predating the transfer, the commission knows which entity to hold accountable.” The OPC representative also warned that allowing exceptions “might create unnecessary variation to a relinquishment process that has been standardized.”
Chair Hoover said the commission was reluctant to act immediately. “Once we cancel the license, we essentially lose all hold on them,” Hoover said, explaining the rationale for pausing a final decision. Commissioners Sushman and Richard expressed similar concerns about ensuring customers remain protected if suppliers exit the market.
Rather than grant or deny the relinquishment at the meeting, the commission took item 1 under advisement and said it will issue a written order incorporating issues raised by OPC, including whether Great American Power has transferred liabilities to Power Vine or must retain a Maryland bond and license for a defined period.
Next steps: The commission will circulate a written order that addresses the information OPC requested; no final action to cancel the license was voted at the Jan. 22 meeting.
