PSC Denies Rehearing on Termination of Columbia Choice Program

The Maryland PSC denied rehearing of its decision to terminate the choice program at Columbia Gas.

The Commission said that the City of Hagerstown's Wastewater Treatment Plant, the only party to formally petition for rehearing, did not have standing in the matter, as the plant was not eligible for choice service (only transportation service), as its volumes exceeded the choice service threshold.

Although it was noted that other City of Hagerstown municipal accounts had been eligible for choice service, it was specifically the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and not the city generally, which had sought rehearing. The Commission also noted that representatives from the city did not elect to appear at today's administrative meeting in support of their petition.

The deadline for filing petitions for rehearing has expired, and thus the standing deficiency in the Hagerstown petition cannot be cured by having the relevant accounts file the petition.