PSC Sets Schedule for MPRP Case
September 11, 2025
Media Contact: Tori Leonard | tori.leonard@maryland.gov
(BALTIMORE, MD) – The Maryland Public Service Commission today issued an order establishing a procedural schedule for the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project case proposed by PSEG Renewables Transmission LLC. The Commission approves a schedule that closely aligns with that proposed by its Technical Staff and the state’s Power Plant Research Program (PPRP), and that will allow the Commission to fulfill its statutory obligation to take sufficient time to review the impacts of this proposed 67-mile transmission line to span Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties.
PSEG proposed a schedule that anticipated a decision in this case by March 31, 2026, to meet a proposed in-service date of June 1, 2027. PPRP argued that PSEG’s application did not include the field studies that PPRP needs to conduct its analysis of the project. Following a pre-hearing conference in early June, the Commission issued an order directing its Technical Staff to facilitate discussions between PSEG, PPRP, and the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel regarding the time required to produce PPRP’s field studies and the feasibility of proceeding without them.
The Commission directed Staff to submit a proposed schedule with recommended dates for the filing of testimony, as well as hearings and post-hearing briefs. The Commission is required by the CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity) statute to conduct thorough examination of a proposed transmission project’s impact on the reliability of the electric system. PSEG’s proposed schedule would not support the required examination of all issues involved in the proposed transmission line.
Near the end of July, Staff noted that it had met several times with PSEG, PPRP and other parties to discuss the procedural schedule, and, although all parties engaged in good faith, they could not reach consensus.
The schedule is adopted as follows:
- March 2, 2026: PSEG files updated analysis (including the environmental review document), environment mapping, and field study reports for all properties in the right-of-way, except for time-of-year restricted field studies. PSEG may also file any updated analysis from PJM.
- April 2, 2026: Status Update
- September 2, 2026: Staff, OPC, PPRP, and Intervenors file direct testimony
- Weeks of September 21 and 28, 2026: Public hearings in each county
- October 16, 2026: Rebuttal testimony responding to other parties and supplemental testimony responding to public comments, and any updated recommended conditions.
- November 13, 2026: Surrebuttal testimony
- December 8-18, 2026: Evidentiary hearings
- January 29, 2027: Parties’ post-hearing initial briefs
- February 12, 2027: Parties’ post-hearing reply briefs
In its order today, the Commission notes that, although PSEG indicated that it would file its application early in the third quarter of 2024, the company did not actually file until December 31, 2024, leaving less time for the Commission to carry out its review. PSEG urged an expedited decision, noting the project was necessary to avoid critical electric reliability issues in Maryland. The Commission takes the reliability of the electric system very seriously. In adopting this schedule that includes a longer timeline than PSEG had requested, the Commission has confidence that PJM, the region’s grid operator, will efficiently maintain the grid during the duration of the Commission’s review of PSEG’s application.