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Public Service Commission approves six administrative filings, including EV program extension
Summary
At its Nov. 25 administrative meeting the Maryland Public Service Commission unanimously approved six administrative items: two consent filings, cancellation of CBTS's telecom authority, a pilotage tariff effective Jan. 1, 2026, an extension request from Potomac Edison for its Phase 1 EV program with a $715,000 maintenance budget request, and operating authority for Shentel/Chantel Entity 1 LLC.
The Maryland Public Service Commission unanimously approved six administrative items at its Nov. 25, 2025, administrative meeting.
The meeting chair moved approval of the consent agenda, which included a name-change filing from Terracom Inc. (d/b/a Max SIP) and Forward Wind Power LLC's application for certification as a renewable energy facility under the Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard; commissioners voted aye on both motions.
On Item 3, staff attorney Lily Tisca told the commission that CBTS Technology Solutions LLC filed notice on Sept. 23, 2025, to voluntarily surrender its authority to provide resold, local exchange and interexchange telecommunications services in Maryland and to cancel associated tariffs. Tisca said CBTS reported it had not provided jurisdictional local or interexchange service since April 30, 2025, and staff recommended canceling CBTS's authority and tariffs. The commission voted to cancel the authority, with the understanding CBTS may file a new application if it later seeks jurisdictional services.
Item 4 was a tariff filing from the Association of Maryland Pilots. Staff (Elwin Clifford) said the filing, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, reflects a 4.54% increase based on a five-year moving-average CPI formula described in the commission's prior settlement. James McGee, counsel for the Association, and Captain Eric Nielsen joined to answer questions. Nielsen said the NTSB review of the Key Bridge incident "found that the pilots and the rest of the bridge team did everything they could," and that pilot procedures to contact the MDTA likely reduced further risk to drivers. The commission accepted the tariff filing effective Jan. 1, 2026.
On Item 5, staff recommended granting Potomac Edison Company an extension to continue its Phase 1 electric-vehicle programs until Dec. 31, 2026, or until a Phase 2 order is issued, and noted a requested budget increase of $715,000 to maintain Potomac Edison's public charger maintenance program. Lanny Hartman, an EV driver and member of the EV working group, told commissioners he is "concerned about the expense of EV charging," saying a recently opened NEVI-funded site he checked charges "61¢ per kilowatt hour." Potomac Edison representative Jessica Raba said the extension request is driven in part by right-of-way agreements with MDOT and the practical need to preserve sites while the commission considers Phase 2. The commission granted the extension.
Item 6 was an application from Shentel Asset Entity 1 LLC (Chantel/Chantel spelling in the filing). Staff (Lily Tisca) reported the applicant seeks authority to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange telecommunications services; staff found the application met requirements and recommended granting authority and waivers of specific COMAR provisions. Stewart French, representing Chantel, confirmed the company has received the necessary approvals in other states; the commission granted the authority and waivers.
All recorded motions described above passed with unanimous "aye" votes from commissioners present. The chair then adjourned the meeting and offered Thanksgiving travel wishes.
