A Message from the Maryland People’s Counsel

Welcome to the Official website of the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel.  Maryland OPC is an independent State agency.  Our mission is to advocate for the interests of Maryland residential consumers of utility services.  These services include electricity, natural gas, telecommunications, private water and certain transportation services. We do this in a variety of ways. OPC is a party in Public Service Commission and federal agency proceedings, we provide testimony before the General Assembly, and provide information and assistance to customers and the public.

Whether it is a merger case, a rate case, proposed regulations or legislative bills, we are there to identify issues that affect the bottom line for households across the state – the quality and reliability of these essential services, the prices we pay for them, and the impacts of new and emerging technologies and services.

Please check out our website for information and resources that affect households across our State.  Look for them in the Consumer Corner and Publications sections of the website.  Here’s a sample:

NEW! A Low-Income Research Tool--This tool allows you to create customized profiles of low-income households in Maryland.  Check it out through the link on the top of the left column, Home page and Hot Topics page. 

Energy Assistance Resource Guides –  FY2020 Guides for Baltimore City and each county

Your Rights as a Utility Customer – 10 Fact Sheets on PSC Regulations and the rights and responsibilities of utility customers

Customer Information about Retail Gas and Electricity Suppliers – 5 Fact Sheets on licensing, marketing and contracting rules governing retail energy suppliers

Energy Suppliers:  A Short List of Consumer Rights and Remedies

Price Comparisons – Retail Gas and Electric Supply vs. Utility Standard Offer Service (SOS) – A comparison of price offers by retail suppliers to the utility supply price, updated monthly

Lifeline Assistance – Updated August 2019

Information Sheets

          Maryland Low-Income Research Tool Accessible to the Public

          PSC Public Hearing Guidelines

          Critical Medical Needs Program

          OPC Resource List

          OPC Resource Guides

          Utility Scams

          Termination Notice Rules for Occupants of Master-Metered Buildings      

OPC Reports

“Maryland Low-Income Market Characterization Report,” (APPRISE, 2018), a report on income, demographic and energy-related characteristics of low-income households in Baltimore City and each county.

“Maryland’s Residential Electric and Gas Supply Markets: Where Do We Go from Here,” (Susan Baldwin and Sarah Bosley, 2018), a report analyzing the residential energy supply markets in Maryland, and the need for further consumer protections.     

I hope you find this information helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to us at DLInfo_OPC@maryland.gov. 

 Paula Carmody

People’s Counsel