'A bill that gets the job done': Utility RELIEF Act expected to pass both legislative chambers

The Maryland General Assembly, on its final legislative day, passed the Utility RELIEF Act, which Governor Wes Moore and Democratic leaders hail as a significant achievement. The bipartisan bill aims to provide approximately $150 in annual electric bill savings for Maryland residents, with additional relief for lower-income households. Despite Democratic praise, Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey criticized the bill for providing insufficient relief for ratepayers. The legislation includes provisions beneficial to data centers, offering expedited permit processes for facilities using batteries and solar for power, and builds on a prior data center tariff requiring them to fund grid improvements related to their impact. Additionally, the bill prohibits utilities from passing PJM membership fees to ratepayers and imposes a one-year moratorium on "forecast test years," a practice allowing utilities to seek multi-year rate increases based on estimated upgrade costs, which the Public Service Commission will now study.