Electric Companies - Regional Transmission Organizations - Report (Utility Transparency and Accountability Act)
Summary
HB121, the Utility Transparency and Accountability Act, requires each electric company in Maryland to file an annual report with the Public Service Commission describing every recorded vote cast by the company, or by a State affiliate when the affiliate voted instead of the company, at meetings of a regional transmission organization during the prior calendar year. The report is due by February 1 each year and must cover votes taken in committees, user groups, task forces, or other RTO bodies where votes are tabulated, whether or not the vote was a final position or otherwise publicly disclosed.
The bill defines key terms such as “recorded vote,” “meeting,” and “regional transmission organization,” and it excludes municipal electric utilities from its requirements. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and is codified as a new section in Maryland’s Public Utilities Article, expanding the reporting obligations of investor-owned electric companies and their affiliates that participate in RTO governance.
Impact
The bill adds a new transparency reporting requirement to Maryland Public Utilities law, specifically creating Section 7-108. It does not change utility rate-setting or RTO participation rules directly, but it does require covered electric companies to disclose their voting activity in regional transmission organizations to the Public Service Commission on an annual basis. This affects investor-owned electric companies and any State affiliates that cast votes in RTO proceedings, while municipal electric utilities are exempt.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. It passed the House 127-8 and the Senate 44-0, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little organized opposition. The title and structure of the act also suggest it was framed as a transparency and accountability measure rather than a regulatory restriction on utility operations.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the scope of disclosure: the bill requires reporting of all recorded votes, including votes that may not reflect a final corporate position and votes cast by State affiliates when the electric company itself does not vote. That broad definition could raise concerns among utilities about administrative burden, strategic confidentiality, or how affiliate actions are attributed to the parent company. However, the voting margins indicate that any such concerns did not generate significant legislative resistance.