Maryland Public Service Commission Submits Comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Strategic Insights -

The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) has submitted comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in support of a complaint filed by Joint Consumer Advocates (JCA) against PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM). The JCA alleges that PJM's most recent capacity auction imposes unjust and unreasonable charges on ratepayers, including Maryland ratepayers. The Maryland PSC intervened in the case and filed comments on May 20, 2025, arguing that FERC must override the outcomes of PJM's markets when it finds that ratepayers will be overcharged.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Maryland PSC has submitted comments to FERC supporting the JCA's complaint against PJM.
  • The JCA alleges that PJM's capacity auction imposes unjust and unreasonable charges on ratepayers, including Maryland ratepayers.
  • The Maryland PSC argues that FERC must override the outcomes of PJM's markets when it finds that ratepayers will be overcharged.
  • The Brandon Shores and Wagner plants, which were previously unavailable as capacity resources, will be able to provide capacity for Maryland's electric customers as a result of a settlement agreement entered between the plants' owner and a broad group of stakeholders, including the Maryland PSC.
  • The settlement agreement was approved by FERC on May 1, 2025.
  • The price tag for PJM-wide capacity costs rose from $2.2 billion to $14.7 billion in last summer's auction, which will cost individual customers hundreds of additional dollars each year.

Statistics:

  • $2.2 billion: The original price tag for PJM-wide capacity costs.
  • $14.7 billion: The new price tag for PJM-wide capacity costs after the auction.
  • 1: The number of settlements reached by the Maryland PSC with over 10,000 others.
  • 2025/2026 Delivery Year: The time period for which the capacity market auction was held.

Sources:

1. "Joint Consumer Advocates v. PJM Interconnection, LLC Docket No. EL25-76-000 COMMENTS OF THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION" (Maryland PSC, 2025)

2. "A complaint filed by Joint Consumer Advocates against PJM Interconnection, LLC" (JCA, 2025)

3. "H. A. Wagner LLC, Brandon Shores LLC, 191 FERC P 61,098 (2025)"

4. "Entergy Servs., Inc. 124 FERC P 61,020, at P 15 (2008)"

5. "ISO New England Inc., 123 FERC P 61,290, at P 12 (2008)"