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Committee unanimously backs bill requiring full cost-benefit analysis of electricity sources
Summary
Teresa Hessler told the committee that House Bill 11-49 (cross-filed with Senate Bill 6-75) requires the Maryland Public Service Commission to perform a full cost-benefit analysis of electricity generation sources and deliver recommendations by Dec. 1, 2026.
Teresa Hessler of Ashlar Government Relations briefed the committee on House Bill 11-49 (cross-filed with Senate Bill 6-75), which would require the Maryland Public Service Commission to conduct a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of electricity generation sources and submit findings and policy recommendations to the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2026. Hessler summarized the scenarios included in the study: natural gas at current capacity, nuclear at current capacity, and an offshore wind scenario at 8,500 megawatts, and noted the study would consider additional reliability and mitigation costs for options such as offshore wind.
Hessler said the commission—s study would evaluate rates under each scenario and present policy recommendations; the bill takes effect Oct. 1, 2025 and the reported PSC cost to undertake the work is estimated at $500,000 spread across 2026 and 2027 for software and staffing. A representative of the county executive—s office said the county supports HB 11-49/SB 6-75.
The committee moved to support the bills; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call (4-0).
