Energy conservation and
efficiency programs that could save the state’s consumers hundreds of millions
of dollars in energy costs are awaiting approval by the Maryland Public Service
Commission (PSC). A group of 30
business, consumer, and environmental organizations is urging the PSC to act.
On Aug. 5, the groups wrote
to the PSC urging the commission to act on a range of programs filed by the
state’s utilities to help consumers save energy and reduce their household and
commercial energy costs. The letter was signed by the American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition, and a
host of state organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
“The PSC may be on the cusp of squandering our best chance
to lower customers’ electric bills,” said Johanna Neumann, State Director of
the Maryland Public Interest Research Group in Baltimore.
“The PSC should direct Maryland
utilities to implement expanded energy efficiency programs as soon as possible,
to start delivering savings to consumers before the end of this year.”
Public utility companies in Maryland first submitted
proposals to the commission last year that would offer help and incentives to
homeowners and businesses to improve energy efficiency. But as of yet, the
commission has taken no action on most of these pending proposals.
"We're not suggesting
that the Public Service Commission give utilities a blank check to spend
ratepayers' money on whatever," said Steve Hannan, Executive Director of
the consumer rights coalition. "But targeted incentive programs to
help consumers save energy will benefit all Maryland consumers. Electricity and
natural gas prices are still headed higher, so the sooner we get started, the
better."
Governor Martin O’Malley and
the Maryland
legislature earlier this year set a goal of reducing electricity consumption in
Maryland by
15 percent by 2015 through conservation measures. The EmPower Maryland
initiative directed utilities to submit additional proposals to the commission by
September 1 of this year that would provide most of those reductions, and
required the commission to review and approve the specific programs proposed by
the utilities.
“Although many consumers
choose to install energy efficient products and equipment every day, large and
persistent barriers continue to limit wider adoption of efficiency measures,”
the ACEEE letter states. “Customer incentive programs are needed to overcome
these barriers. Most electricity customers lack the time, capital, or expertise
to fully recognize and exploit energy efficiency opportunities.”
