Maryland Lawmakers Scrutinize Utility Upgrade Costs

State Senate committee holds hearing on utility infrastructure projects and ratepayer impact

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Maryland state lawmakers are concerned about utilities passing on the costs of infrastructure upgrades to consumers. The Maryland Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee held a hearing to examine the competitive bidding process and consider legislation to provide more oversight and protection for ratepayers.

Why it matters

Utility infrastructure upgrades can significantly impact consumer electricity rates, and lawmakers want to ensure the costs are justified and not overly burdensome on ratepayers. This hearing is part of an effort to build guardrails around the process and give the state more control over reviewing proposed projects.

The details

The hearing focused on Baltimore Gas & Electric's (BGE) plans to invest over $500,000 in distribution and transmission upgrades to support growth in the Baltimore Peninsula area. Senate President Bill Ferguson drafted a bill that would require the Maryland Public Service Commission to evaluate the necessity and cost-effectiveness of proposed upgrades, a function currently handled by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after the fact. Utility representatives presented technical details on their multi-year infrastructure plans, leaving lawmakers seeking a deeper understanding of the process.

  • The Maryland Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee held the hearing on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • BGE issued a temporary pause on the Baltimore Peninsula project on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Brian Feldman

The chairman of the Maryland Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, representing Montgomery County.

Bill Ferguson

The Maryland Senate President, who drafted a bill to give the state more oversight over utility infrastructure projects.

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE)

The utility company planning a major infrastructure upgrade project in the Baltimore Peninsula area.

Jason Stanek

The executive director of government services at PJM, the regional grid operator that reviews local projects after the fact for potential harm.

John Frain

The vice president of strategy and regulatory affairs at BGE.

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What they’re saying

“We are here on the topic of supplemental projects and the process.”

— Brian Feldman, Committee Chairman

“It's the growth and scale that ratepayers have to bear through a process that, from my perspective and many others, felt new and the first time they ever heard of it.”

— Bill Ferguson, Senate President

“Often, they are resulting of the need to replace aging assets to provide service to a new customer base that did not exist before, or to be proactive and not wait for existing infrastructure to become at a state where it needs to be replaced.”

— Jason Stanek, Executive Director of Government Services, PJM

“Multi-year plans look at up to three years in the future, and what the utility work is going to be, what our work plans are.”

— John Frain, Vice President of Strategy and Regulatory Affairs, BGE

What’s next

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The takeaway

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