Energy

Marylanders are continuing to reel from unacceptably high energy bills as data center growth pulls from existing supply and utility companies put profits ahead of the people they serve. Maryland families are facing impossible choices between paying their utility bills and keeping food on the table. While energy is regulated at the federal, regional, and state level, meaning that Maryland only has a certain number of levers it can pull to reduce prices, the Maryland General Assembly is working hard to do what we can to reduce energy bills for Marylanders.

Utility RELIEF Act (HB 1532)(2026)

With this bill we built on the historic progress from the 2025 energy package. The Utility RELIEF Act is comprehensive legislation that provides short, medium, and long-term financial relief and planning. It

• Reduces annual bills by more than $150 per year on average from the limited portion of costs within Maryland’s control;
• Holds utility companies accountable, requiring greater State oversight of federally approved projects totaling $3.5 billion in actual and projected spending, and capping what utilities can recover for supervisor pay;
• Builds on the Next Generation Energy Act from last Session to further force data centers to pay an increased price for the energy they consume and infrastructure upgrades their construction requires;
• Invests $100 million to bring new in-state clean generation online as quickly and efficiently as possible to fight back against Trump policies driving up electric bills by attacking renewable projects; and
• Streamlines existing energy assistance programs while supporting the State’s new Limited Income Mechanism program, which could save eligible low-income households up to $1,400 annually.

Next Generation Energy Act (HB 1035)(2025)

○ Accelerates Maryland’s clean energy transition and provides rate relief by deploying 150 megawatts of distribution-connected energy storage

○ Reforms how utilities propose multi-year rate plans, as it only permits them when they improve service predictability, maintain quality, and protect consumers from retroactive charges

○ Fast-tracks the procurement of new energy generation while excluding coal and oil

○ Strengthens oversight of gas utilities by reforming the STRIDE program, which ensures that infrastructure projects prioritize safety, provide customer value, and consider low-cost alternatives like leap repair, with communities notified ahead of construction

○ Aims to ensure Maryland’s energy system is affordable, transparent, and equitable

Renewable Energy Certainty Act (HB 1036)(2025) makes the siting of solar and other renewables easier to manage

Building Energy Performance Standards - Alterations and Analysis (HB 49)(2025) alters Maryland’s Building Energy Performance Standards ("BEPS" - a policy to reduce emissions from the building sector) from the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022), and ensures that Montgomery County buildings only need to comply with Montgomery County’s more flexible local law

Coal Combustion By-Products - Fees, Coordinating Committee, and Regulations (SB 425)(2025) strengthens oversight of coal ash storage and cleanup by aligning with federal rules, expanding monitoring, creating a coordination committee, and updating fees to fund enforcement

The EmPOWER Reform Bill (HB 864)(2024) updates Maryland's energy efficiency program, setting clear greenhouse gas reduction targets, and introducing incentives for adopting efficient electric appliances and heating.

The WARMTH Act (HB 397)(2024) creates a pilot program that establishes networked geothermal projects in a handful of neighborhoods across the state, with a focus on those that are underserved.

Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources Act (the POWER Act)(HB 793/SB 781)(2023) sets a goal of producing 8.5 gigawatts of electricity by 2031 off Maryland’s Atlantic coast. It also requires state agencies to work with PJM Interconnection, the regional electric grid manager, to build one or more transmission lines to carry the power to be generated by the offshore wind turbines to homes and businesses across the state.

Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Program (HB 908). This bill makes permanent the Community Solar Energy Generating Systems Pilot Program and requires a community solar energy generating system to serve at least 40% of its kilowatt-hour output to low-income and moderate-income subscribers under certain circumstances