In a ruling arising from its Administrative meeting in August, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has ruled in favor of Washington County’s request to engage in “net energy metering” on an energy-generating project. The ruling, still pending a potential appeal, directs Potomac Edison (the regional distribution utility serving Western Maryland) to make net energy metering available to this county project and others in its service area. The ruling does not directly affect other utilities or regional of the state. Both MACo and the Maryland Energy Administration submitted statements to the PSC supporting the project.

From the PSC letter ruling:

After considering this matter at the August 13, 2014 Administrative Meeting, the Commission approved the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County’s request to prohibit Potomac Edison from rejecting the interconnection request application for virtual meter aggregation service on the basis that the County is not a municipal government under Commission regulations. The Commission also directed Potomac Edison to make available virtual meter aggregation service to county governments, including Washington County, within its Maryland service territory.

Read the full PSC ruling letter online.

See previous Conduit Street coverage of this issue: MACo Seeks PSC Clearance for Washington County Power Project