Electric bills may climb for people in Western Maryland who get power from Potomac Edison.
Here's what to know
Tri-State Alert reports that the utility is seeking approval for a $52.8 million rate hike that would raise a typical residential monthly bill by about 5.3%.
Potomac Edison says the proposed increase would help fund grid upgrades and other reliability work.
Serving Washington County and the rest of Western Maryland, Potomac Edison — a FirstEnergy subsidiary — has asked Maryland regulators to approve a rate change. The company says the filing is meant to cover improvements to aging equipment, wider grid upgrades, and additional reliability projects.
If regulators approve the request, Potomac Edison says its residential prices would still rank as the lowest among Maryland's investor-owned electric utilities. The company also says that, as of June 1, its rates were 25% below the average charged by its in-state peers.
The proposal would need approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission before taking effect, and the review process gives the public a chance to comment.
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In a separate PEPCO case in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, the commission rejected the full 5.3% request and approved a smaller increase instead.
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More background
A key part of the filing is a reliability improvement program intended to build on earlier grid work.
Planned projects include adding Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition technology, which would give operators a clearer view of the system and help crews respond faster when problems happen.
The proposal also calls for replacing substation reclosers and older underground cable, expanding circuit ties and automation, and reconductoring some overhead lines. It would also include more clearing of high-risk trees near power lines before storms cause outages.
Potomac Edison says the work is designed to make the system more flexible, improve storm readiness, and speed restoration.
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What can be done?
Customers who want to weigh in can follow the Maryland Public Service Commission review process and submit public comments.
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Potomac Edison says the increase would support "continued investment in the electric system."
Where can I learn more?
As Potomac Edison customers weigh a possible 5.3% increase, these articles offer more context on how Maryland households can soften rising electricity costs and why utility spending is drawing scrutiny. They also highlight options that can give homeowners more control over monthly bills.
• Maryland residents can tap up to $2,000 in aid plus rebates to ease surging power bills.
• New Maryland and Virginia laws allow plug-in balcony solar to trim electric bills up to 25%.
• Palmetto customers are increasingly turning to solar panel subscriptions to cut bills without high upfront costs.
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