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PSC "Encourage[s]" Retail "Suppliers" To Inform PSC If Supplier Intends To Continue Serving Residential Customers
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The Maryland PSC has directed PSC Staff, the Office of People's Counsel, and other stakeholders to collaborate on developing a proposal for the best way to address retail supplier and broker license renewals and license relinquishment requests, inclusive of a process that determines if it is viable and appropriate for the Commission to delegate direct authority to Staff to approve applications for renewals and relinquishments.
The Commission directed Staff, OPC, and other interested parties to submit recommendations on this matter to the Commission by June 30, 2025.
Furthermore, within 60 days of a June 2 letter order, the PSC said that, "retail energy suppliers are encouraged to notify the Commission whether they intend to continue serving residential customers in Maryland or whether they intend to request recission of their residential retail supplier license."
In Maryland, the term "supplier" as used in licensing includes brokers, marketers, and aggregators, in addition to load-serving retail suppliers
The PSC has noted the influx of suppliers requesting to relinquish and, in some cases, modify their supplier licenses (typically, if not a full withdrawal, an application to remove residential service authorization from the license), which the PSC observed is likely in response to the passage of SB 1 in 2024, which included various new measures and obligations limited to residential "suppliers" (including brokers et al.), including license renewals and renewal fees
Dozens of suppliers/brokers have filed to amend or relinquish their licenses, or their authorization for residential service, in recent months. The PSC has been addressing these requests on a case by case basis, but Commissioners have previously opined on whether there may be a way to streamline such filings
"The Commission stated its desire to address such requests uniformly and simultaneously, rather than continuing to receive requests and make determinations on an ad hoc basis," the PSC said
OPC has generally raised concern to ensure that, in cases of residential relinquishment, the exiting supplier maintains a financial integrity measure to address any potential claims arising from the prior residential service
Notably, the PSC, in disposing of certain voluntary applications for withdrawal, has used varying terminology in granting such requests. In at lease one instance, in a letter order addressing a voluntary relinquishment request for residential service, the PSC stated that the PSC "revoked the permission" for residential service. Other recent orders have notably used different terms -- such as "approved the cancellation request" or "removed the permission" for residential service
Having a license, or part of a license, stated to be "revoked", even under a voluntary withdrawal request, may trigger an obligation for a supplier to report, and explain, such revocation to other PSCs, or potentially even a credit sleeve provider
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PSC Seeks Collaborative Recommendation On Retail Supplier, Broker License Renewal, Relinquishment Process
Seeks Uniformity Given Influx Of Suppliers Seeking License Relinquishment Or Modification
June 3, 2025
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Copyright 2025 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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