Maryland Public Service Commission

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The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent administrative agency within the state government which regulates public utilities and certain taxi cab and other passenger services in Maryland. Similar to other state Public Utilities Commissions, the Maryland PSC regulates and sets rates for natural gas, electricity distribution, local telephone, water, and sewage disposal companies. The PSC also sets rates for pilot services for vessals and private toll bridges, approves the construction of electric generating plants and transmission lines, and licenses retail natural gas and electricity suppliers.^[1] The PSC offices are located in Baltimore.

The PSC has an independent division of hearing examiners to hear contested cases and issue proposed orders. Final orders are issued by the Commission and are subject to judicial review in the state circuit courts.

1 Public Service Commission Commissioners
2 History
3 References
4 Also see
5 External links

[edit] Public Service Commission Commissioners

Five commissioners serving staggered terms are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Maryland General Assembly. By statute the commissioners must be representative of the state's regions and demographics. The current commissioners are Steven B. Larsen (chairman), Harold D. Williams, Allen M. Freifeld, Susanne Brogan, and Lawrence Brenner.^[2]

[edit] History

The PSC was established in 1910. In 1999, legislation titled the Electric Customer Choice and Competition Act of 1999 was enacted to resturcture the electric industry and electric generation was deregulated.