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Washington Gas asks PSC to approve Empower Maryland sunset plan, recover closeout costs into 2027
Summary
Washington Gas told the Public Service Commission it has filed a sunset plan to end its Empower Maryland programs by 12/31/2026, asked the commission to permit recovery of closeout costs into 2027 and said projected 2027 closeout costs are about $3.4 million, roughly 72% below 2025 spending.
Washington Gas Light Company asked the Public Service Commission to approve its Empower Maryland sunset plan and allow recovery of closeout costs into 2027. "Total projected 2027 closeout costs are approximately $3,400,000, a reduction of roughly 72% from 2025 spending," Josh McClellan, the company's director of energy efficiency, told the commission during the hearing.
McClellan said the plan would stop new enrollments after Dec. 31, 2026, honor commitments made in the final program year, and recover remaining closeout costs through the existing surcharge mechanism, which the company said reconciles annually and returns any overcollections to customers. The company asked the commission to act on its filing by Sept. 1, 2026.
The presentation said the plan's objectives are to conclude program operations in compliance with the Utility Relief Act, limit additional program-level expenditures, and continue required evaluation and reporting. WGL noted it would provide post-termination affirmation reporting and pipeline data on project status and completion timelines if the commission required them.
Company counsel said WGL is prepared to accept reasonable conditions that staff recommends but urged the commission not to impose a hard spending cap or an advance approval process that the company argued would delay payments to customers and risk incomplete commitments.
