The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Bill Requires Withdrawal from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and Alters Energy Surcharges
Last action · February 16, 2026: Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Mike McKay
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Governor of Maryland is required to withdraw the State from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative by January 1, 2027, while eliminating the EmPOWER energy efficiency surcharge on utility customer bills and modifying how is calculated for customer-generators starting October 1, 2026.
Utility customers will see changes to line-item fees on monthly bills, and residential solar or other customer-generators will have altered compensation rates for excess electricity fed back into the grid.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
electric companies
Electric companies must alter rate recovery mechanisms by removing the EmPOWER surcharge and adjusting net excess generation calculations.
gas companies
Gas companies are impacted by the elimination of the EmPOWER surcharge and associated cost-recovery and disclosure requirements.
eligible customer-generators
Customer-generators experience changed rates for net excess generation payments based on standard offer service averages.
utility customers
Key Facts
- The Governor must withdraw Maryland from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on or before January 1, 2027.
- The State is authorized to rejoin the initiative if all other PJM Interconnection states become full members or if Maryland becomes and remains a net exporter of electricity.
- Proceeds from future Maryland allowance sales under RGGI must be deposited into the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund if the state rejoins.
- The surcharge line item allowing recovery of costs for EmPOWER energy efficiency programs from utility customers is eliminated.
Show all 8 facts
- Provisions requiring electric and gas companies to disclose surcharge details related to past program costs dating back to 2008 are repealed.
- Net excess generation payout formulas for eligible customer-generators are updated based on standard offer service rates.
- The Governor must notify the Department of Legislative Services within 5 days of withdrawing from or rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
- The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Maryland have to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative?
What happens to the EmPOWER energy efficiency surcharge on utility bills?
Can Maryland rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the future?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 16, 2026SenateHearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Reversal of State Carbon Market Participation
The bill repeals longstanding statutory mandates requiring Maryland's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative established in 2007.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy70Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools