Got to talk to Jayne and Josh about energy policy in the Maryland legislative session and opportunities ahead!

💪💪💪 “The House has been very clear that we want to ban ratemaking based on forecasted test years because it is an important protection for ratepayers,” Peña-Melnyk said Friday. “Pepco just proved the point for us.” thedailyrecord.com/2026/04/24/p...

Federal energy regulators voted yesterday to keep accounting rules in place that allow monopoly utilities to charge customers for trade association activities - rejecting calls from a diverse coalition to protect customers from these expenses. energyandpolicy.org/ferc-rejecti...

“I wouldn’t say they’ve had a rough year,” Scarr said of Exelon. “The status quo serves them pretty well.”

ICYMI- last night community members and advocates testified against Washington Gas’s proposed rate hike- if approved, rates for those who heat their homes with gas will increase by 19.2% and for those who do not heat their homes with gas rates would increase by 26%. youtu.be/sot0CfTygO4?...

“In a statement Monday evening, consumer group Maryland PIRG argued that the Senate version of the bill “guts consumer protections.” Emily Scarr, a senior adviser at Maryland PIRG, argued that the Senate’s changes to the bill “reward the utility companies that are driving our high bills.”

“Maryland deserves an energy system where affordability, accountability and the public interest come before corporate PR. Until our regulatory framework demands that alignment, Marylanders will be overpaying for power so that corporate shareholder profit targets are achieved.”

Getting rid of that old paint can just got easier in Maryland

These foster parents have taken in 15 kids. Their goal: Send them home.

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, the sponsor of the CUC revival bill, said: “I think there is a reason 46 other states have someone that is independent that represents just the consumers and doesn’t report to someone who has to be the judge in the case.”

join www.upgrademaryland.org for an update on the #Maryland legislative session Monday March 30 7pm: tinyurl.com/UpMDGA26

Packed room for hearing on the Break STRIDE Act - to end utility bill surcharges fueling wasteful gas utility spending. @emilyscarr.bsky.social on the proponents panel on behalf of Maryland PIRG

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC) approved a modified version of Washington Gas’ so-called District Strategic Accelerated Facility Enhancement (“District SAFE”) Plan to replace at-risk gas pipes.

Our 3-year investigation into shadowy undisclosed lobbying by the American Petroleum Institute and various MD utilities has broken, permanently, the seal on secret lobbying in Maryland. Thanks to @emilyscarr.bsky.social and PIRG for blazing a trail on this ! insideclimatenews.org/news/0203202...

Today Del. Embry presented her bill for increased transparency and oversight on underground transmission lines. Learn more: www.thebanner.com/economy/bge-...

What we learned from Exelon and BGE’s recent shareholder report. Increased spending is was leads to rate increases and higher profits. Not all spending is bad but customers keep paying more and getting less.

BGE profits reach another record high while failing on customer service, safety, affordability pirg.org/maryland/med...

BGE brought in a record breaking $578 million in profits in 2025, a $50 million increase over 2024. In Annapolis, legislators are considering a variety of bills to address BGE’s mismanagement, excessive spending and excessive profits. pirg.org/maryland/med...

High utility bills are driving states to soften rate hikes through demand flexibility and making it easier to build clean energy. We should move quickly on these good policies. But we also need more fundamental reform. New from me on long-term affordability ⬇️ www.utilitydive.com/news/quick-f...

The House voted Friday to set new limits on the use of ratepayer dollars to pay salaries for employees of investor-owned utilities, which comes as legislative leaders aim to address high electric bills in the state and across the region. marylandmatters.org/2026/02/07/m...

As utility bills and profits skyrocket, we applaud House leaders for pushing back on excessive utility charges and wasteful spending with HB1. The state is right to limit how much state-granted monopolies can charge their customers for executive salaries. pirg.org/maryland/med...

As energy bills continue to rise, many have heaped blame on PJM Interconnection, the operator of the region’s electrical grid. Would it make any sense for Maryland to leave it? A House bill calls for a study of that very question. marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/m...

Baltimore Peninsula’s future is uncertain. BGE tearing up nearby roads isn’t.

BGE bills keep rising as delivery charges take up more of the total www.wmar2news.com/matterformal...

Your BGE bill has definitely gone up. Here’s why. www.thebanner.com/economy/bge-...

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill, by Maryland PIRG Associate Sofia Gilroy www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

Familiar story ...The latest report on MA pipeline safety programs shows utilities are spending more but the miles of pipe being replaced remains flat commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/new-r...

“Do I have all of the answers right now? No, I don’t. But am I willing to do the work? And are my members willing to do the work? Absolutely. Absolutely.” Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk charts a new course in the Maryland House. 📸: @jessicagallagher.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Maryland agency warns BGE customers about 2026 rate increases as rising energy bills prompt concerns

It’s time for the PSC to end multi-year ratemaking to return more balance and accountability to ratemaking in Maryland.

Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...

Exciting to see Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County implementing their small donor public financing for the first time this year www.baltimoresun.com/2025/12/14/k...

Relying on contract labor drives up customer costs and BGE profits. “If BGE continues to underinvest in its workforce, the union said the company will be under even more pressure to hire contractors… that would jeopardize the reliability of BGE’s services and drive up costs to customers.”

Thanks for your work RJ. My kids aren’t getting any AI toys this Hanukkah or anytime soon. www.today.com/video/why-ai...

Guilty pleas, $100K fine for Skyline Tower Painting for a 2022 tower-washing project that showered TV Hill with hazardous lead paint. www.thebanner.com/community/cr...

BGE is charging customers billions under the banner of safety for a program that may actually be delaying the work to replace, repair the riskiest cast iron pipes.

Fast-Tracked and Flawed: New Analysis Finds BGE’s $19.5 Billion Gas Pipeline Program Fails to Prioritize Safety, Drives Up Costs pirg.org/maryland/fou...

Every time BGE tears up Baltimore’s streets to replace pipes, they make more money. Don’t take my word for it, take their most recent public earnings statement – BGE’s 3rd quarter profits increased by 82% since last year… 1/4

BGE choosing ‘wasteful’ gas pipe replacement projects, consumer watchdog says

Maryland PIRG’s new analysis finds BGE’s multi-billion dollar gas pipeline replacement program may be slowing the work to repair or replace the riskiest pipes. A 2025 law could result in major changes moving forward to stop wasteful spending & require BGE to prioritize safety. bit.ly/pirgreport

The Maryland Public Service Commission is moving forward with regulations to end a policy that forces existing gas customers to pay the cost of building pipelines for new customers- ending an outdated process the drives up customer costs and increases utility profits. pirg.org/maryland/fou...

Two more good decisions from the IIlinois Commerce Commission... STATEMENT: Regulators slash Nicor, Ameren rate hikes pirg.org/illinois/med...

Maryland utiility regulators are using their new authority to ensure Washington Gas' pipe safety spending priritizes safety and is cost effective pirg.org/maryland/upd...

An explosion of state-supported infrastructure spending by utilities caused the increases, leading many states to reconsider, restrict, or roll back their policies. Read more: www.npr.org/2025/10/13/n...

Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...

Thanks to MD PSC (www.psc.state.md.us), gas corporations can no longer unfairly charge existing customers big $ to add new customers--saves customers $1B in hidden fees & helps reduce the $1.3B in annual health costs due to gas burning equipment in MD.