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PSC Issues Grid Modernization Status Report
On August 19, 2026 the Maryland PSC issued its 2026 phase III status report outlining progress toward integrating reliability and resilience into Electric System Planning (ESP).
The work group mapped interim planning metrics to Maryland’s ESP requirements, identifying most areas as addressed or partially addressed, while hosting capacity remains a key gap. Additionally, the work group developed a revised proposal for incorporating reliability and resilience into the 2027 Preliminary ESPs, including reliability performance, resilience risks, alternatives analysis, and cost-effectiveness. The Work Group is seeking MDPSC guidance on 2027 filing requirements, hosting-capacity metrics, customer surveys, reliability regulations, and equity/vulnerable-community metrics before the 2027 ESP cycle.
As background, the Maryland PSC initiated this matter to review utility distribution grids to ensure they are “customer-centered, affordable, reliable and environmentally sustainable.” Topics to be discussed include: (1) alternative rate designs, including time-of-use rates and performance-based utility incentives; (2) the costs and benefits of integrating distributed generation (DG), particularly solar; (3) smart meters; (4) energy storage; (5) improving the DG interconnection process; (6) distribution system planning; (7) the impact of grid changes on low-income customers.
