ROUNDUP: Governor Moore, Senate President Ferguson, and House Speaker Peña-Melnyk Unveil Legislative Package to Lower Energy Bills for Marylanders

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Today, Governor Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk announced the Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act, a comprehensive legislative package to lower energy bills for Marylanders.

As energy costs continue to rise nationwide, the Utility RELIEF Act mobilizes more than $200 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to secure local clean energy generation, modernize Maryland’s electric grid, and lower energy bills. The legislative package reduces Marylanders’ average energy bills by an estimated $150 annually, provides funding for local clean energy projects, and introduces measures to hold utility companies and data centers accountable.

Statement from Governor Wes Moore

“Marylanders deserve energy bills they can afford. But because of the Trump-Vance administration’s actions and failures by regional operators like PJM, too many families are seeing skyrocketing utility costs—and that is unacceptable. That is why we are taking action where we can: holding utility companies accountable, moving faster to build new energy generation, and delivering $100 million to lower energy bills for Maryland families. While Washington keeps making life harder for working people, we are staying focused on the issues that matter—lowering costs, making Maryland more affordable, and protecting Maryland families.”

Statement from Senate President Bill Ferguson

“Fundamentally, the legislative package being announced today is about maximizing savings for working families in the midst of a historic increase in energy consumption in a tightening energy generation market. If the measure of a government is how it supports those most in need, Maryland will lead the way both in its targeting of assistance and the ease with which eligible residents can access it.”

Statement from House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk

“Our Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act will provide Maryland ratepayers at least $150 in annual savings while holding utilities and data centers accountable, strengthening the long-term reliability of our energy system, incentivizing new generation, and reaffirming our commitment to achieving our clean energy goals. Savings from this bill will make life more affordable for all Marylanders. We are delivering on our affordability, accountability, and opportunity agenda.”

Read more about the announcement below:

The Baltimore Banner: Moore and Maryland lawmakers have a plan to reduce energy bills by $150 a year

Maryland Democratic leaders are making a new push to respond to rising energy bills that have outraged ratepayers for the past two years.

Gov. Wes Moore, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk announced Friday that they back legislation they say could save ratepayers $150 every year. It would also put guardrails on data centers and utility companies.

The Utility RELIEF Act — Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families — would authorize $100 million to alleviate surcharges on utility bills, building on the $200 million energy plan that Moore announced in late January.

Legislators passed a rebate for ratepayers last year when they earmarked $200 million in the Next Generation Energy Act to fund an $80 credit. The first half was applied last fall, coming off the heels of a scorching summer and blasting air conditioners. The second was applied to bills last month.

The Utility RELIEF Act puts some pressure on Baltimore Gas and Electric and other utility companies by capping how much money they can seek to recover from ratepayers for executive compensation and requires utility companies to prioritize using advanced transmission and grid-enhancing technologies.

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Data centers would be required to pay for any infrastructure upgrades that are necessary to connect them to the power grid.

The Baltimore Sun: Moore, state Democrats’ energy package promises Marylanders $150 in annual savings

Maryland’s top Democratic leaders on Friday unveiled a sweeping legislative package aimed at lowering electricity bills, boosting in-state energy generation, and tightening utility oversight, as residents face skyrocketing energy costs.

Gov. Wes Moore joined Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk at the State House to announce the proposal, known as the Utility RELIEF Act. Lawmakers said the legislation could reduce electricity bills by at least $150 per year for the average Maryland household while also expanding assistance programs for low-income residents.

“Those bills are not rising because households are suddenly starting to use more power,” Moore said. “They are rising because our people are stuck in a system that is actively working against them.”

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The proposal combines elements of the governor’s earlier Lower Bills and Local Power Act with priorities from the Maryland General Assembly, lawmakers said Friday. They added that the measure is designed to address both the immediate cost pressures facing households and long-term supply shortages in the regional energy market.

WBAL-TV11: Maryland governor, leaders announce Utility RELIEF Act aimed to lower utility bills

The governor, joined by Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46; House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, D-District 21; and General Assembly members, announced a legislative package called the Utility Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families (RELIEF) Act that's intended to lower energy bills.

"The Utility RELIEF Act is how we make the system work better for the people — our people —and not the powerful interests that it has worked for for decades," Moore said.

FOX45: Maryland officials announce legislation to lower energy bills for state residents

Maryland officials announced the Utility RELIEF Act, described as a comprehensive legislative package to lower energy bills for residents.

The legislation is said to incorporate elements from the governor's proposed Lower Bills and Local Energy Act and represents a unified strategy between the Moore Administration and the Maryland General Assembly to generate more energy in the state and hold big utility companies accountable.

The plan is also expected to save Maryland families at least $150 on their energy bills every year.

The Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation on Everyday Families) will use over $200 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to secure local clean energy generation, modernize the state's electric grid, and lower energy bills.

CBS News Baltimore: Package of bills aimed at lowering energy bills introduced in Maryland

The Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families (RELIEF) Act will allocate $200 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to be used to secure clean energy generation, modernize Maryland's electric grid and lower energy bills.

Under the measure, $100 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund would be used to refund ratepayers and offset utility fees and bills.

WUSA9: New legislation aims to lower Maryland energy bills

Maryland leaders announced a new series of bills to lower energy costs statewide. Gov. Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk unveiled the Utility RELIEF Act on Friday. It's a legislative package that focuses on holding utility companies accountable, while saving Maryland families at least $150 on their energy bills every year, the governor's office claims.

The legislation incorporates elements from Moore's proposed Lower Bills and Local Energy Act as well as key priorities from the Senate and House to create a unified strategy between the Moore administration and Maryland's General Assembly.

Energy bills in Maryland have been a major focus for the Moore administration. In December of last year, the governor even issued an executive order in an effort to lower costs.

Eye on Annapolis: Maryland Utility Relief Plan Promises $150 in Annual Consumer Savings as BGE Bills Keep Rising

Maryland leaders have unveiled a new energy package they say will save the average household at least $150 a year, as many BGE customers continue to face higher utility costs. Gov. Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said the proposed Utility RELIEF Act is designed to lower bills, increase oversight of utilities, and keep large energy users from shifting more costs onto residential customers.

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Under the Utility RELIEF Act, the state would direct more than $200 million from the Strategic Energy Investment Fund toward bill relief, local energy generation, and grid upgrades. That includes $100 million intended to offset utility fees and provide direct relief to ratepayers. Supporters say the legislation would also increase scrutiny of utility spending, require data centers to pay for their own infrastructure upgrades, and expand help for lower-income customers, with some lower-income households eligible to save up to $1,400 per year.

WMAR2: Democratic leadership's legislative package aims to lower Marylanders' utility bills

Governor Wes Moore has teamed up with House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Senate President Bill Ferguson to unveil the Utility RELIEF Act to try to lower Marylanders' energy bills.

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[The legislation] aims to hold utility companies more accountable, place guardrails on data centers by requiring they pay for their own energy infrastructure upgrades, and to streamline energy assistance programs for low-income families.

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