Exelon Seeks to Overturn Maryland's 26-Year Power Plant Ban

Exelon Corp., the owner of three electric utilities in Maryland, is planning a dramatic legislative push in Annapolis next year to overturn a 26-year-old utility deregulation policy that prohibited utilities from operating power generation facilities. The company aims to build and operate a new power plant in the state, marking a significant reversal of decades-old energy policy that forced utilities to separate their transmission infrastructure from power generation businesses. This move comes at a unique political moment when Maryland residents and regional electricity customers are experiencing significant price pressures from both rising demand and increasing power distribution costs charged by utilities.

Critics of Exelon's proposal raise concerns that unlike current power generators operating in Maryland, the utility giant would be able to recover generation costs directly from ratepayers through regulated rates. However, Exelon officials emphasize that any cost recovery would require approval from Maryland regulators, who would maintain oversight over how, where, and when generation facilities are constructed. Valencia McClure, a senior vice president of governmental, regulatory and external affairs at Exelon, argues that this approach provides "a guaranteed way to increase electricity supply, which will help bring costs under control" while ensuring regulatory oversight of investment decisions. The company's push represents a fundamental shift in Maryland's energy landscape and could reshape how electricity generation is regulated and financed in the state for years to come. Readers interested in the full details can READ FULL ARTICLE HERE for comprehensive coverage of this developing story.