Governor Moore, along with the PSC and OPC, filed a complaint with FERC to end unfair surcharges costing Maryland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. 

Last week, Governor Wes Moore joined by the Public Service Commission and Office of People’s Counsel in filing a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to end an unfair surcharge costing Maryland ratepayers tens of millions of dollars. The General Assembly passed the Utility RELIEF Act in the 2026 session, which the governor signed earlier this year, clearing the way for this action, forcing big utility companies to stop charging unjustified fees they have been collecting from Maryland families and businesses.

The Utility RELIEF Act took aim at an unfair surcharge by making utility and transmission owner membership in PJM mandatory, setting the stage for this challenge. Maryland is now filing this complaint at FERC to challenge the continuation of the charges as unjust and unreasonable.

The official complaint notes that FERC allows utility companies to collect a surcharge meant to encourage companies to join Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), known as an “RTO adder.” However, once state law requires utilities to join an RTO, there is nothing left to incentivize, and the surcharge can no longer be justified.

Read the full story. 

Check out Conduit Street’s 3 Part Deep Dive on the Utility RELIEF Act:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III

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