The PSC will not decide on the controversial line project until spring 2027.
The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) has established a lengthy procedural schedule for the proposed Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a 500,000-volt transmission line stretching approximately 70 miles through northern Baltimore County and Carroll County to an existing station in southern Frederick County. Under that schedule, the Commission will not issue a final decision until spring 2027.
A Long Road Ahead
Under the schedule, PSEG Renewable Transmission must file updated environmental reports, routing studies, and survey results by March 2026. Public hearings in each affected county are set for September 2026, followed by evidentiary hearings in December. Final briefs are due in February 2027, with the Commission’s decision expected later that spring.
The PSC denied PSEG’s request for an expedited timeline to meet PJM’s June 2027 in-service date, citing the need for a full review and public participation.
That decision reflects both the scale of the application and the significant questions already raised by local governments and residents.
The PSC noted that the drawn-out schedule stems partly from PSEG’s own timing, since the company didn’t file its application until late December 2024. That late start compressed the review window, leaving the Commission unwilling to rush such a complex case.
At the same time, PJM — the regional grid operator — has warned that without the Piedmont project in service by 2027, the region could face significant reliability issues, including the risk of blackouts. In response, the PSC expressed confidence that PJM will efficiently maintain the electricity supply.
County Stakes and Local Impacts
As previously reported on Conduit Street, Baltimore, Carroll, and Frederick counties have outlined substantial concerns with the project. Local leaders have flagged risks to farmland, preserved open space, historic sites, and residential communities.
Counties have also opposed the potential use of eminent domain and called for greater transparency, more meaningful public engagement, and a serious review of less disruptive alternatives.
The PSC’s schedule provides a longer window to further document impacts and ensure those concerns are part of the record.
The Bottom Line
A final ruling may be nearly two years away. Still, the questions at the heart of the project — reliability, land use, and community impact — will only grow sharper as the record develops.
Read previous MACo coverage and stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
