EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1079*
HOUSE BILL 1079
C5 5lr3230
By: Delegates Fraser–Hidalgo and Wilson
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2025
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Service Commission – Study on the Electric Transmission and 2
Distribution System 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission to conduct a study on the 4
electric transmission system and the electric distribution system in the State; and 5
generally relating to a study by the Public Service Commission. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) The Public Service Commission shall conduct a study on the electric 9
transmission system and electric distribution system in the State. 10
(b) The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the 11
potential application of grid–enhancing technologies and advanced conductors in a manner 12
that ensures system reliability and safeguards the cybersecurity and physical security of 13
the electric transmission system and electric distribution system in Maryland. 14
(c) The study shall: 15
(1) identify present and reasonably foreseeable future inadequacies in the 16
electric transmission system in the State; 17
(2) identify alternatives to building transmission lines, including 18
grid–enhancing technologies such as: 19
(i) dynamic line rating; 20
(ii) power flow controllers; 21
(iii) topology optimization; and 22 2 HOUSE BILL 1079
(iv) other hardware or software designed to reduce congestion or 1
enhance the flexibility of the electric transmission system; 2
(3) identify economic, environmental, and social issues associated with 3
each alternative identified under item (2) of this subsection; 4
(4) summarize any public input, the role of local government, and any other 5
stakeholder involvement in the identifications made under items (1), (2), and (3) of this 6
subsection; and 7
(5) identify investments necessary to modernize the electric transmission 8
system and electric distribution system by: 9
(i) enhancing reliability; 10
(ii) improving security against cyber and physical threats; and 11
(iii) increasing energy conservation by facilitating communication 12
between utilities and their customers through the use of: 13
1. two–way meters; 14
2. control technologies; 15
3. energy storage; 16
4. microgrids; 17
5. demand response; and 18
6. any other innovative technologies. 19
(d) The Public Service Commission may use information and analyses from 20
regional transmission organizations to comply with the requirements of this section. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before January 1, 2026, 22
the Public Service Commission shall report its findings to the Governor and, in accordance 23
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on Education, 24
Energy, and the Environment and the House Economic Matters Committee. 25
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
October 1, 2025. 27