Regulated Utilities
What We Regulate
The Commission regulates gas, electric, telephone, water, and sewage disposal companies. Also subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission are electricity suppliers, fees for pilotage services to vessels, construction of a generating station and certain common carriers engaged in the transportation for hire of persons. The PSC’s jurisdiction extends to taxicabs operating in the City of Baltimore, Baltimore County, Cumberland, and Hagerstown.
Electricity
The Electricity Division conducts economic, financial, and policy analyses relevant to the regulation of electric utilities, electricity retail markets, low-income concerns, and other related issues.
Gas
The Gas Division regulates the delivery of retail natural gas services in the state of Maryland, focusing on retail natural gas competition policy and implementation of customer choice.
Transportation
The Transportation Division enforces the laws and regulations of the Public Service Commission pertaining to the safety, rates, and service of passenger-for-hire transportation companies (i.e. sedan, van, limousine, and motor coach services) operating in intrastate [within Maryland] commerce.
Telecommunications
The Telecommunications Division regulates the delivery of wholesale and local retail telecommunications services in the state of Maryland.
Safety and Reliability
The Engineering Division monitors the operations of public service companies for safety, efficiency, reliability and quality of service. The Division’s primary areas of responsibility include electric distribution and transmission, gas and electric metering, private water and sewer distribution systems, certification of solar renewable energy facilities, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety.
Utility Cybersecurity
The Commission established an Office of Cybersecurity in 2023 to oversee minimum cybersecurity standards and best practices for regulated entities in accordance with regulations (COMAR 20.06) that became effective in December 2024.
The Commission’s Office of Utility Cybersecurity has established a public service company inspection process to assess compliance with COMAR 20.06 and to advise the Commission on utility cybersecurity.
The Commission’s Cybersecurity Reporting Work Group also meets regularly to maintain dialogue with public service companies on general cybersecurity-related matters.
Ben Abramovitz is the Director of Utility Cybersecurity
Need Help?
The Public Service Commission is here to help. Please contact us with any questions.