OPC in the News

Media inquiries or requests to automatically receive all OPC Press Releases may be addressed to: lori.sears@maryland.gov

News will be posted when available.

Filter
Select Month
 
Select MonthAllJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Select Year
 
Select YearAll202320222021
 Title Description
Maryland Pepco Customers To See Slight Bill Increase Next Month (3/27/2023, DCist)Open 
First in the nation bill seeks to shed light on utility deliberations and ‘shadow government’ (3/24/2023, Maryland Matters)Open 
OP-ED: Debunking myths about electrification | Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (3/21/2023, Maryland Matters)Open 
Maryland Bill Would Require Utilities to Report Votes at PJM (3/20/2023, RTO Insider)Open 
Marylanders Overpaid $1 Billion in Excessive Utility Bills. Some Lawmakers and Advocates Are Demanding Answers (3/20/2023, Inside Climate News)Open 
MPT's Jeff Salkin interviews People's Counsel David S. Lapp; interview begins at 10:39 mark (3/17/2023, State Circle on MPT)Open 
Bill envisions extra scrutiny of powerful Public Service Commission, which is already slated for a facelift (3/10/2023, Maryland Matters)Open 
PSC Staff Issues 8-9 Cease & Desist Letters To Retail Suppliers (3/8/2023, Energy Choice Matters)Open 
Subscription-only: Maryland offshore wind push gains momentum with federal help. Here's what lawmakers plan (3/8/2023, Salisbury Daily Times / Delmarva Now)Open 
Wes Moore’s nominee for Maryland’s utility regulator withdraws amid concern about his ties to the gas industry (2/28/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
SmartEnergy Ordered To Pay Millions In Refunds For Overcharging Telephone-Enrolled Customers (2/27/2023, Havre de Grace Patch)Open 
Maryland governor taps gas industry official to help regulate gas industry (2/27/2023, Washington Post)Open 
OP-ED: As BGE invests in gas, Sun readers question the wisdom (2/25/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
BGE’s proposed rate increase would be difficult burden for many, say customers, officials and advocates (2/24/2024, Baltimore Sun)Open 
Commissioner To Retail Suppliers: "Clean Up Your Act, Or Things Will Change Dramatically" (2/22/2023, Energy Choice Matters)Open 
Wes Moore Names Two Members to Maryland Public Service Commission (2/17/2023, Inside Climate News)Open 
BGE proposes rate increase with $10.36 annual hike for consumers (2/17/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
‘Green Bag’ report: Like Hogan, Moore taps campaign chair to head Stadium Authority board (2/17/2023, Maryland Matters)Open 
BGE proposes gas, electric rate hikes starting in 2024 (2/17/2023, Baltimore Business Journal)Open 
Maryland tax exemptions for energy-efficient appliances return this weekend (2/16/2023, DC News Now)Open 
OP-ED: Maryland must embrace its electric future | Commentary by Sun Editorial Board (2/16/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
Maryland gas companies should plan for an electrified future, decrease spending, ratepayers’ advocate warns (2/13/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
OP-ED: Unnecessary gas investments set to raise rates; Maryland regulator must intervene | Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (2/10/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
Washington Gas Faces Lawsuits in D.C. and Maryland Over Alleged ‘Greenwashing’ (2/1/2023, Washington City Paper)Open 
Study: Md. will need massive investment in low-income housing retrofits to meet aggressive climate goals (1/31/2023, Maryland Matters)Open 
Consumer utility shutoffs have grown into a crisis in Maryland and across U.S., report finds (1/31/2023, Baltimore Sun)Open 
Home energy bills continue to rise, here's how to lower your usage (12/20/2022, WMAR-TV, Channel 2)Open 
WHCP Radio interview with People's Counsel David Lapp (12/15/2022, WHCP Radio, on SoundCloud)Open 
Maryland’s Largest County Just Banned Gas Appliances in Most New Buildings—But Not Without Some Concessions (12/2/2022, Inside Climate News)Open 
Md. regulators say Columbia Gas rate settlement balances competing interests (12/1/2022, S&P Global Market Intelligence)Open 
East Coast’s first countywide gas ban passed in Md. (11/30/2022, E&E News - EnergyWire)Open 
As utilities spend billions on transmission, support builds for independent monitoring (11/29/2022, Maryland Matters) Open 
OP-ED: Latest explosions a potent argument for building electrification (11/27/2022, Maryland Matters)Open 
Environmental Advocates Call on Gov.-Elect Wes Moore to Roll Back State Funding for Fossil Fuel Industry (11/25/2022, Inside Climate News)Open 
Environmentalists balk at state offer of $9M in grants to expand natural gas infrastructure (11/22/2022, WYPR 88.1 FM)OpenNovember 2022
Maryland’s gas companies are thwarting the will of the people (11/11/2022, Washington Post)OpenMaryland’s gas companies are thwarting the will of the people (11/11/2022, Washington Post)
In Court, the Maryland Public Service Commission Quotes Climate Deniers and Claims There’s No Such Thing as ‘Clean’ Energy (11/1/2022, Inside Climate News) OpenNovember 2022
PJM capacity proposal: fuel for the ongoing market ‘crisis,’ or a needed step to limit overprocurement? (10/24/2022, Utility Drive)OpenOctober 2022
Gas utility spending undermining Maryland climate goals -- report (10/7/2022, The Energy Daily)OpenOctober 2022
OP-ED: Time to reevaluate massive gas utility infrastructure spending | Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (10/6/2022, Maryland Matters)Open 
Delmarva Power's rate increase plans draw heat from state, feds (9/8/2022, Delmarva Now)OpenSeptember 2022
FERC transmission NOPR sees new round of comments (8/23/2022, Power Markets Today)OpenAugust 2022
Md. Office of People’s Counsel calling for stricter Public Service Commission oversight (8/1/22, 47ABC-TV)OpenAugust 2022
A Controversial Ruling Puts Maryland’s Utility Companies In Charge Of Billions in Federal Funds (7/30/2022, Inside Climate News)OpenJuly 2022
Video interview on MPT's "State Circle" with People's Counsel David S. Lapp and show host Jeff Salkin, on retail suppliers, at 11:00-minute (7/29/2022, State Circle on MPT)OpenJuly 2022
Could gas leak fixes thwart climate goals? (7/25/2022, E&E News)OpenJuly 2022
People's Counsel Seeks Regulations To Implement Ban On Retail Supplier Service To Energy Assistance Customers, Warns Of Gap In Prohibition Due To Statutory Language (5/13/2022, Energy Choice Matters)OpenMay 2022
Climate Notes: A Leader for Anne Arundel/Annapolis Resilience Authority, Pressuring Utilities on LED Lights and More (5/11/2022, Maryland Matters)OpenMay 2022
NRG payment plan to keep coal plant running panned (5/9/2022, Power Markets Today)OpenMay 2022
Losing STRIDE? Benefits of Natural Gas Program Questioned as Gaze Turns to Electrification (4/29/2022, Maryland Matters)OpenApril 2022
Ohio Bribery Scandal Hits Home in Md. — and Utility Customers May Be Footing the Bill (4/21/2022, Maryland Matters)OpenApril 2022
Is it really "environmentally friendly"? Maryland state agency warns consumers about "greenwashing" (4/15/2022, WMAR-TV Baltimore, Channel 2 News)OpenApril 2022
FirstEnergy utility gave to pro-Trump dark money group (3/28/2022, E&E News)OpenMarch 2022
OP-ED: BGE energy delivery costs are up, despite spokesperson’s claims | Letter to the Editor Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (3/23/2022, Baltimore Sun)OpenMarch 2022
Interview on CTV News with Assistant People's Counsel Niki Wiggins on Washington Gas Light customer-service issues, at 1:10 (3/18/2022, CTV News)OpenMarch 2022
Washington Gas fined $1M over customer service blunders (3/18/2022, WTOP)OpenMarch 2022
Washington Gas fined more than $1 million for customer service issues (3/18/2022, WUSA9)OpenMarch 2022
Washington Gas penalized more than $1 million for widespread customer service problems (3/17/2022, WJLA-ABC7)OpenMarch 2022
Want more solar panels? Good luck connecting to the grid (3/16/2022, E&E News)OpenMarch 2022
Powerful Groups Take Aim at Aggressive Building Standards in Climate Legislation (2/28/2022, Maryland Matters)OpenFebruary 2022
Matter for Mallory: BGE customers seeing a spike in heating bills (2/22/2022, WMAR-TV Baltimore, Channel 2 News)OpenFebruary 2022
2022 Maryland Clean Energy Center Legislative Reception on "Climate & Energy, Policy & Regulation." See David Lapp's talk starting at 59:00 (2/17/2022, YouTube) OpenFebruary 2022
OP-ED: People’s Counsel: Remember Texas! Md. Needs Robust Electric Distribution Planning | Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (2/10/2022, Maryland Matters)OpenFebruary 2022
Maryland regulators deny attempt to force release of FirstEnergy’s confidential HB6 internal investigation (1/14/2022, Cleveland.com)OpenJanuary 2022
Maryland OPC summarizes modernization talk at PSC (1/19/2022, Power Markets Today)OpenJanuary 2022
FERC orders PJM to change reserve market rules, delay capacity auctions (12/23/2021, Utility Dive)OpenDecember 2021
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finds proposed Delmarva Power price hike “Unlawful” (12/22/2021, 47ABC-TV)OpenDecember 2021
Consumer Advocates Request Rehearing on PJM Rate-base Network Upgrades (12/21/2021, RTO Insider)OpenDecember 2021
Maryland court sides with OPC, PSC against retailer (12/20/2021, Power Markets Today)OpenDecember 2021
OPC's work highlighted in subscription-only article: PSC acted unlawfully with rate increase, OPC tells court (12/16/2021, The Daily Record)OpenDecember 2021
OPC's work highlighted in subscription-only article: Several states defend competition in FERC ANOPR reply (11/30/2021, Power Markets Today)OpenNovember 2021
Hogan Administration Officials Diverge on Building Decarbonization Plan (11/2/2021, Maryland Matters)OpenNovember 2021
Interview on CTV News with People's Counsel David S. Lapp on Washington Gas Light customer-service issues, at 4:02 (10/21/2021, CTV News) OpenOctober 2021
OPC's work highlighted in subscription-only article: PJM market reset victors seeks court-ordered remand (10/12/2021, Power Markets Today)OpenOctober 2021
BGE needs a smart grid, not natural gas infrastructure | READER COMMENTARY (10/5/2021, Baltimore Sun)OpenOctober 2021
New Maryland Legislation Advances Consumer Interest in Clean Energy (October 2021, Fortnightly Magazine)OpenOctober 2021
OP-ED: Gas infrastructure investments: too costly for consumers and environment | Commentary by People's Counsel (9/27/2021, Baltimore Sun)OpenSeptember 2021
Washington Gas leaves customers on hold for hours, cites call center contractor (9/11/2021, Washington Post)OpenSeptember 2021
As extreme weather risks rise, so do the costs of protecting Maryland's power grid from storms like Ida (9/10/2021, Baltimore Sun)OpenSeptember 2021
Md. Consumer Advocate Spotlights Utilities’ Links to Fossil Fuel Companies and Insurrectionists (9/8/2021, Maryland Matters)OpenSeptember 2021
Maryland Office of People’s Counsel Wants to Put an End to Utilities Charging Customers for Corporate Trade Group Dues (9/3/2021, Corporate Crime Reporter)OpenSeptember 2021
Retail energy supplier SunSeaEnergy fined for deceiving 1,200 Maryland customers (8/26/2021, Baltimore Sun)OpenAugust 2021
Power in the Park: Neighborhood Event Connects Constituents to Energy Savings (8/16/2021, Maryland Matters)OpenAugust 2021
Federal agency rules Pepco must release more info before raising rates (8/10/2021, Bethesda Beat)OpenAugust 2021
BGE, Pepco face regulatory obstacle for proposed rate change (8/5/2021, Baltimore Business Journal)OpenAugust 2021
Maryland commission to investigate Potomac Edison, FirstEnergy ties amid scandal (7/27/2021, Daily Record)OpenJuly 2021
People's Counsel urging rehearing on Washington Gas rate case (7/27/2021, Daily Record)OpenJuly 2021
OPC's work highlighted in subscription-only article: DC Circuit partially sides with advocates against FERC (7/12/2021, Power Markets Today)OpenJuly 2021
DC Circ. Says FERC Must Address Power Supply Estimates (7/9/2021, Law360)OpenJuly 2021
Pepco to increase electricity rates over next three years (7/8/2021, Bethesda Magazine)OpenJuly 2021
Divided Maryland PSC grants Pepco $52.2M rate hike (7/1/2021, Daily Record)OpenJuly 2021
Maryland Utility Customers To Receive $83 Million In Pandemic Relief (6/17/2021, DCist)OpenJune 2021
Maryland to distribute $83 million in relief to utility customers (6/16/2021, Daily Record)OpenJune 2021
OP-ED: Daily Record Coverage of Utilities, Disappointing | Commentary by People's Counsel David S. Lapp (5/28/2021, Daily Record)OpenMay 2021
NRG push for sweeping retail market changes in Northeast meets Texas-sized obstacles (5/26/21, Industry Drive)OpenMay 2021
OPC's work highlighted in subscription-only article: Maryland advocacy office seeks FirstEnergy probe (5/17/21, Power Markets Today)OpenMay 2021
Get Ready for the Big Legislative Fight of 2023 (3/5/21, Maryland Matters)OpenMay 2021