HB 540

Did not advance

Investor-Owned Electric, Gas, and Gas and Electric Companies - Utility Rate Changes (Public Service Company Transparency Act)

Sponsor: Mary A. Lehman (District 21)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting certain electric, gas, and gas and electric companies from initiating a proceeding that may lead to a rate change unless the company provides customers with a certain notice; requiring certain electric, gas, and gas and electric companies to include a certain statement in each customer bill and automatic payment e-mail and distribute a certain annual rate report in a certain manner; requiring the Public Service Commission, in consultation with the Office of People's Counsel, to develop a certain report; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (36)

MGA witness list

FAV 26FavorableUNF 6UnfavorableINFO 4Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Dunning, Bryan	Center for Progressive Reform	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Brittanylobbyist	Chesapeake Climate Action Network	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McGilvray, Laurie	Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bevan-Dangel, Jenniferlobbyist	Economic Action Maryland Fund	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stewart, Frances	Elders Climate Action Maryland	Position only
FAV	Peltier, Laurel	Energy Advocates Coalition	Oral
FAV	Organization, HoCo Climate Action	HoCo Climate Action	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Virginia	IndivisibleHoCoMD	Position only
FAV	Webster, Phil	Legislative body for the Unitarian Universalist faith, C/O Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis	Position only
FAV	Feighner, Liz	Liz Feighner, self	Position only
FAV	Lehman, Mary	MGA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peltier, Laurel	Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rehr, Rebeccalobbyist	Maryland League of Conservation Voters	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gilroy, Sofialobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Oral
FAV	Scarr, Emilylobbyist	Maryland PIRG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lapp, David	Office of People's Counsel	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Webster, Phil	Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Arndt, Dave	Individual	Position only
FAV	Cohn, Debbie	Individual	Position only
FAV	Delegate Lehman, Delegate Lehmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Held, Karl	Individual	Position only
FAV	Kapolowitz, Richard	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Outten, Megan	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Blum, Danna	Carroll County Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Baccino, Steve	Chesapeake Utilities Corporation	Written (PDF)
UNF	Troxell, Timothylobbyist	FirstEnergy / Potomac Edison	Written (PDF)
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Crossley, Nakhialobbyist	Washington Gas Light	Written (PDF)
UNF	Gross, Kenneth	Individual	Position only
INFO	Andes, Benjamin F. Guylobbyist	BGE	Written (PDF)
INFO	Waitlevertch, Scottlobbyist	Columbia Gas of Maryland	Written (PDF)
INFO	Barve, Barve	MD PSC	Written (PDF)
INFO	Deal, Poetrilobbyist	Pepco and Delmarva Power	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

BGEINFO 1

Carroll County Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Center for Progressive ReformFAV 1

Chesapeake Climate Action NetworkFAV 1

Chesapeake Utilities CorporationUNF 1

Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Columbia Gas of MarylandINFO 1

Economic Action Maryland FundFAV 1

Elders Climate Action MarylandFAV 1

Energy Advocates CoalitionFAV 1

FirstEnergy / Potomac EdisonUNF 1

HoCo Climate ActionFAV 1

IndivisibleHoCoMDFAV 1

Legislative body for the Unitarian Universalist faith, C/O Unitarian Universalist Church of AnnapolisFAV 1

Liz Feighner, selfFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Energy Advocates CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland PIRGFAV 2

MD PSCINFO 1

MGAFAV 1

Office of People's CounselFAV 1

Pepco and Delmarva PowerINFO 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of MarylandFAV 1

Washington Gas LightUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVBaker, BrittanyChesapeake Climate Action NetworkRegistered for: Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund

FAVBevan-Dangel, JenniferEconomic Action Maryland FundRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Humane Society of the United States; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane World for Animals

FAVRehr, RebeccaMaryland League of Conservation VotersRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters

FAVGilroy, SofiaMaryland PIRGRegistered for: Maryland PIRG Citizen Lobby

FAVScarr, EmilyMaryland PIRGRegistered for: Maryland PIRG Citizen Lobby

UNFTroxell, TimothyFirstEnergy / Potomac EdisonRegistered for: FirstEnergy, Corp.

UNFAllen, HannahMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce

UNFCrossley, NakhiaWashington Gas LightRegistered for: Washington Gas

INFOAndes, Benjamin F. GuyBGERegistered for: Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

INFOWaitlevertch, ScottColumbia Gas of MarylandRegistered for: Columbia Gas of Maryland

INFODeal, PoetriPepco and Delmarva PowerRegistered for: Pepco Holdings, LLC.