A coalition of elected officials, labor, consumer, and climate groups is urging the Maryland Public Service Commission to protect residents from excessive rate hikes by ending the multi-year rate plan pilot program which launched in 2020.

The Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) is preparing for a record number of energy assistance applications this year. OHEP expects to assist 270,000 households. Last year, it received 243,252 applications.

Groups gathered outside the Maryland Public Service Commission in downtown Baltimore to urge the transition from methane gas heating in homes to clean electric equipment.

Rate hikes have been fueled by aggressive and highly profitable capital spending by many of the state’s largest gas and electric utilities.