The Amazing array of Maryland's government agencies monitoring our electricity but Who is Watching Them?
Marylanders vote for a lot of government, so let's see how many entities are involved with providing and monitoring electricity. Could there be a coordination problem? Maybe some of these agencies are contributing to the cost of electricity?
The grandfather of all is the Maryland Public Service Commission started in 1910. It's main job is determining rates for all utilities, industrial, commercial and residential. See link, https://psc.maryland.gov/
Maryland Energy Administration (MDEM) https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx
The mission of the Maryland Energy Administration is to promote clean, affordable, reliable energy and energy-related greenhouse gas emission reductions to benefit Marylanders in a just and equitable manner. https://energy.maryland.gov/Pages/InsideMEA/index.aspx
The Maryland Energy Administration is responsible for administering the SEIF.
Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF)
The purpose of the Strategic Energy Investment Program is to decrease energy demand and increase energy supply to promote affordable, reliable, and clean energy. On behalf of the state, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) administers the Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF), implements SEIF-funded programs that support Maryland’s energy policies, and monitors SEIF-funded programs being implemented by other state agencies.
https://energy.maryland.gov/pages/strategic-energy-investment-fund-(seif)-.aspx
SEIF was created to help cut power bills and lower greenhouse gas emissions, but its exponential growth in recent years has made it a tempting target for appropriators. Last year, the legislature pulled hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund to address the state’s budget woes. And the governor’s did it again this year.
https://marylandmatters.org/2026/02/26/protect-seif-rally-budget/
Strategic Energy Planning Office (SEPO) in Maryland
Establishing the Strategic Energy Planning Office; requiring the Office to develop a Comprehensive Wholesale Energy Markets and Bulk Power System Risk Report and examine certain scenarios to support the development of the Risk Report; requiring the Risk Report to assess wholesale energy market financial resource adequacy and reliability risks and to identify any necessary cost-effective solutions that ensure electric system reliability while meeting the State's energy policy goals; etc. It became law per Maryland Constitution, Chapter 19 of 2025 Special Session.
The office would cost as much as $6 million per year and consist of 21 staff members, including engineers, economists and attorneys, according to a legislative analysis.
For SEPO to fulfill its promise, it must be staffed with technical experts who prioritize data, systems thinking and realism over purely aspirational policy. It needs people who do not care what the answer is but know how to build systems that work. Equally important, Maryland’s leadership must begin to think strategically — something that’s been largely missing from past efforts. https://marylandmatters.org/2025/05/16/maryland-could-finally-get-a-strategic-energy-planning-resource-now-what/
Maryland Energy Advisory Council, was just formed by the governor, made up of legislators, utilities, PJM, consumer advocates, and ...
More Electricity Related Agencies and Projects
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Maryland Commission on Climate Change
Energy Industry Revitalization Group
Energy Resilience and Efficiency Group
Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE)
Maryland Clean Energy Center https://www.mdcleanenergy.org
Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM).
Department of Information Technology
Climate Change Agencies
There are 25 Maryland agencies associated with climate change.
Department of Information Technology, said its top priority as the state wrestles with climate change is to evaluate the impact that data centers, prodigious energy users that Moore hopes to attract to Maryland in greater numbers, will have on emissions in the state.
Department of the environment, Maryland
https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/air/ClimateChange/RGGI/Pages/rggi_climatechange_resources.aspx
Federal Agencies dealing with electricity
FERC
Department of Energy
Montgomery County Agencies
Office of Energy and Sustainability
Montgomery Energy Connection (A community partner network)
Montgomery County Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) managed by the Department of Human Services
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William Irving, PE, an electrical engineer, is interested in all energies and lives in Montgomery County.