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County hearing highlights regional market pressures, data-center impacts and gaps in customer outreach as bills rise
Summary
Panelists told Montgomery County officials that a mix of volatile supply prices, rising regulated distribution charges and PJM allocation of transmission/capacity costs — amplified by data-center load growth — are driving recent increases in residential utility bills; the PSC and utilities described assistance options and ongoing regulatory actions.
Montgomery County’s Transportation and Environment Committee convened a multi-agency panel Feb. 5 to explain why residential gas, electric and water bills have jumped and what assistance is available.
Panelists from the Maryland People’s Council, the Maryland Public Service Commission, Pepco, Washington Gas and WSSC Water described multiple drivers: volatile supply (commodity) prices, significant increases in regulated distribution (delivery) charges, transmission and capacity costs in PJM auctions and rapid load growth from hyperscale data centers in adjacent states. The Public Service Commission said complaints rose sharply — the Consumer Affairs Division reported 4,760 complaints in 2025, a 79% increase from 2024.
David Lapp of the Maryland People’s Council told the committee that distribution charges for Exelon-owned Maryland utilities have climbed far faster than supply costs in recent years and said data-center-driven capacity and transmission costs are imposing large,…
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