Maryland leaders are preparing a sweeping effort in the 2026 legislative session to curb rising utility bills. Lawmakers, advocates and energy experts agree that ratepayers are increasingly frustrated as costs climb, without a corresponding improvement in service. Building on 2025’s energy reforms, legislators plan to expand investments in battery storage, solar development and competitive procurement for large-scale solar projects using existing renewable energy funds. They are also revisiting major debates from last session, including disagreements over rebate programs, the phaseout of fossil fuels and whether Maryland should accelerate its nuclear and gas investments.
What to expect: Certain lawmakers are seeking to reshape how data centers interact with the grid by requiring them to provide or manage their own energy capacity, reduce loads when needed and undergo stricter approval processes to prevent strain on PJM’s multistate grid. Additional proposals aim to modernize the grid with new technology, improve transparency in load forecasting and push utilities to adopt cost-containment plans.
