EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0483*
SENATE BILL 483
C5 5lr3398
CF 5lr1844
By: Senators Gallion, Watson, Brooks, West, Carozza, Hershey, Salling, Bailey,
Corderman, Ready, and Mautz
Introduced and read first time: January 22, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Utilities – Alternatives to Construction of New Transmission Lines 2
FOR the purpose of expanding the circumstances under which the Public Service 3
Commission is required to examine alternatives to the construction of a new 4
transmission line; and generally relating to the construction of new transmission 5
lines. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 7
Article – Public Utilities 8
Section 7–209 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
Article – Public Utilities 14
7–209. 15
(a) (1) The Commission shall examine alternatives to the construction of a new 16
transmission line in a service area[, including the use of an existing transmission line of 17
another company,] if THE USE OF AN ALT ERNATIVE: 18
[(1)] (I) [the existing transmission line] is convenient to the service area; 19
[or] 20
[(2)] (II) [the use of the transmission line] will best promote economic and 21
efficient service to the public; 22 2 SENATE BILL 483
(III) WILL BEST MAINTAIN H ISTORICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL , OR 1
AGRICULTURAL PRESERV ATION AREAS; OR 2
(IV) WILL AVOID ANY OVERL AP WITH A LOT, PARCEL, OR TRACT 3
OF LAND THAT IS: 4
1. LOCATED WITHIN A PLA NNED GROWTH AREA 5
IDENTIFIED IN THE LO CAL JURISDICTION ’S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ; OR 6
2. ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL USE OR M IXED USE WITH A 7
RESIDENTIAL COMPONEN T. 8
(2) ALTERNATIVES TO THE C ONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TRANSMISSION 9
LINE INCLUDE: 10
(I) THE USE OF AN EXISTI NG TRANSMISSION LINE OF ANOTHER 11
COMPANY; 12
(II) THE USE OF AN EXISTI NG RIGHT–OF–WAY; 13
(III) RECONDUCTORING AN EX ISTING TRANSMISSION LINE; AND 14
(IV) UNDERGROUNDING A TRA NSMISSION LINE. 15
(b) In considering the use of an [existing transmission line] ALTERNATIVE under 16
subsection (a) of this section, the Commission need not consider whether the company that 17
owns the line has a franchise in a service area. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 19
October 1, 2025. 20