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Council committee advances Bill 2725 to create local community choice aggregator; vote unanimous
Summary
The Transportation & Environment Committee unanimously advanced Bill 2725, which would authorize Montgomery County (through DEP) to operate a community choice aggregation pilot under HB 768; staff adopted technical amendments clarifying statutory references and supplier language.
The Montgomery County Transportation & Environment Committee on Oct. 6 advanced Bill 2725, a local law to establish a community choice aggregation (CCA) pilot administered by the Department of Environmental Protection. The pilot would allow the county to act as a CCA for residential and small-commercial customers and offer a level of renewable content above the state’s renewable portfolio standard.
Council President Stewart, sponsor of the bill, framed the measure as an implementation step authorized by Maryland’s 2021 legislation (HB 768) and said it would allow the county to “move forward in creating a community choice aggregator plan.” Council staff summarized two technical amendments: replace the bill’s reference to an “electricity supplier” with the function-specific language used in the Maryland code for a community choice aggregator, and broaden the statutory citation so the CCA can access the full suite of compliance mechanisms under the state renewable portfolio scheme.
County staff (DEP and council staff) told the committee the Office of Management and Budget’s fiscal assessment noted a modest, hard-to-estimate fiscal impact until the county’s CCA plan is stood up and PSC-approved. Public testimony during earlier PSC and county outreach was described as “almost universally supportive,” with the Apartment and Office Building Association raising concerns about member impacts.
Stan Edwards of DEP clarified that the enabling state statute envisions the county’s program as an opt-out model — customers would be included by default but could opt out at any time — and staff noted the Public Service Commission will review the county aggregation plan and the proposed customer-notice process.
After accepting the technical amendments in the staff report, the committee held a hand vote and advanced the bill unanimously in an expedited hearing. The committee’s action now sends the measure forward for subsequent council consideration and PSC review of the county’s aggregation plan.
