Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act
Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Utility RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 353 (as of Sep 4, 2026)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Transferring the electric universal service program to the Office of Home Energy Programs and requiring the Office to authorize benefits under the program for certain electric customers; establishing the Green and Renewable Energy Efficiency for Nonprofits Loan Program in the Maryland Clean Energy Center; altering certain required procedures related to the permitting, inspection, and interconnection of certain residential solar energy systems; altering the uses of the Environmental Trust Fund; 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 (166)
MGA witness listFAV 41FavorableFWA 83Favorable with amendmentsUNF 29UnfavorableINFO 13Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Borgmann, Linda | Cummings & Co. Realtors | Position only |
| FAV | Bevan-Dangel, Jenniferlobbyist | Economic Action Maryland Fund | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Gaver, Lisa | Gaver Farm, LLC | Position only |
| FAV | Barry, Justin | Green & Healthy Homes Initiative | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Organization, HoCo Climate Action | HoCo Climate Action | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Smith, Virginia | IndivisibleHoCoMD | Position only |
| FAV | Lapp, David | Office of People's Counsel | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Oriadha, Krystal | PG County Council | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Davis, Benjamin | Permit Power | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Peña-Melnyk, Joseline | Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Gatti, Dominic | Tesla | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Kaplowitz, Richard KAP | Year | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Weil, Paul | home | Position only |
| FAV | Bandzwolek, Donna | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Brooks, Amanda | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | EBAUGH, CHERYL | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Fronden, Constance | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Frost, Sarah | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Furches, Seth | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Furches, Seth | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Gallagher, Patrice | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Grabush, Joyce | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Hamilton, Peter | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Harvey, Erica | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Iampieri, Daniel | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Kable, John | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Kable, Robin | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Lipsky, Brian | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Molony, Scott | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Phillips, Jason | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Ringger-Weil, Michele | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Seibel, Laura | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Sharpless, Bradford | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Shopland, Jamie | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Soderstrom, Derek | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Speaker, Speaker | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Speaker, Speaker | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Swartz, William | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Tabler, Terry | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Thacher, Judith | Individual | Position only |
| FAV | Werner, James | Individual | Position only |
| UNF | DuBois, Gwen | Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Demiray, Sonia | Climate Communications Coalition | Position only |
| UNF | Demiray, Sonia | Climate Communications Coalition | Position only |
| UNF | McGilvray, Laurie | Climate Justice Wing of the Maryland Legislative Coalition | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Waitlevertch, Scottlobbyist | Columbia Gas of Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Aguilar, Jorgelobbyist | Food & Water Watch | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Mallonee, Sean | HACC | Oral |
| UNF | Smith, Ginny | IndivisibleHoCoMD | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Webster, Phil | Legislative body for the Unitarian Universalist faith, C/O Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Feighner, Liz | Liz Feighner, self | Position only |
| UNF | Feighner, Liz | Liz Feighner, self | Position only |
| UNF | Plante, Cecilia | Maryland Legislative Coalition | Position only |
| UNF | Reinhardt, Richardlobbyist | Percy Public Affairs, LLC | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Goodson Bell, Selah | Solar United Neighbors Action | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Miller, Cynthia | Third Act MD | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Hargrove, Matthew | Total Home Performance | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | McNair, Lee | Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry | Position only |
| UNF | McNair, Lee | Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry | Position only |
| UNF | Arndt, Dave | Individual | Position only |
Showing 60 of 166
Organizations on record
AARP MarylandFWA 1
Action in MontgomeryFWA 1
BGEINFO 2
Chaberton EnergyFWA 1
CleanCapitalFWA 1
Compass AdvocacyFWA 1
Constellation EnergyFWA 1
ECA SolarFWA 1
Economic Action Maryland FundFAV 1FWA 1
EnergyHubFWA 1
Enhanced Impact LLCFWA 1
Food & Water WatchUNF 1
Garrett CountyFWA 1
Gaver Farm, LLCFAV 1
Green & Healthy Homes InitiativeFAV 1FWA 1
HACCUNF 1
HBSFWA 1
HoCo Climate ActionFAV 1FWA 1
homeFAV 1
IGS SolarFWA 1
IndivisibleHoCoMDFAV 1UNF 1
Liz Feighner, selfUNF 2
Lodestar EnergyFWA 1
Maryland PIRGFWA 2
Maryland State PoliceINFO 1
MD PSCFWA 2
MD Sierra ClubFWA 2
Nature ForwardFWA 1
New Columbia SolarFWA 1
New Energy EquityFWA 1
NexampFWA 1
OPCFWA 1
Pepco HoldingsINFO 3
Permit PowerFAV 1
PG County CouncilFAV 1
Progressive MarylandFWA 2
Solar LandscapeFWA 1
TeslaFAV 1
Third Act MDUNF 1
TurningPoint EnergyFWA 1
Washington Gas LightINFO 2
YearFAV 1
Registered lobbyists who testified
FAVBevan-Dangel, JenniferEconomic Action Maryland FundRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane Society of the United States; Humane World for Animals; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland
UNFReinhardt, RichardPercy Public Affairs, LLCRegistered for: Allegany County Historical Society; Allegany Museum, Inc.; City of Cumberland; City of Frostburg; Diamond Game; Humpty Dumpty Learning Center…
FWABaker, BrittanyChesapeake Climate Action NetworkRegistered for: Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund
FWABaker, BrittanyChesapeake Climate Action NetworkRegistered for: Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund
FWABevan-Dangel, JenniferEconomic Action Maryland FundRegistered for: Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Humane Society of the United States; Humane World for Animals; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland
FWAHance, RosaEnhanced Impact LLCRegistered for: Advanced Energy United; American Whitewater; Enhanced Impact LLC; Forever Maryland, Inc.; Form Energy, Inc.; Potomac Riverkeeper Network…
FWASmith, LisaHBSRegistered for: Action Now Initiative, LLC; Ameresco; American Massage Therapy Association - MD Chapter; Constellation Energy Generation, LLC; Curriculum Associates LLC; Maryland Podiatric Medical Association…
FWARehr, RebeccaMaryland League of Conservation VotersRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters
FWARehr, RebeccaMaryland League of Conservation VotersRegistered for: Maryland League of Conservation Voters
FWAVaughan, EvanMid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)Registered for: Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition Action (MAREC Action)
FWABinetti, RickWGL Energy Services, Inc.Registered for: Acknowledge Farms; American Association of Public Insurance Adjusters; Catoctin Farms; Honey's Harvest Farm; Irvine Natural Science Center, Inc.; Mayor and City of Baltimore, The…
FWAFiastro, JohnRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; Arcadia; Bayview Management LLC; Benelli USA c/o Pica & Associates, LLC; Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1 MD, VA & DC; Building Decarbonization Coalition…