Annapolis, MD — The Maryland Freedom Caucus will convene lawmakers, energy experts, and grid operators on Friday for the second in a planned series of Mid-Atlantic energy hearings, focusing on rising electricity costs and growing concerns over grid reliability.
According to a media advisory, the hearing—titled “Powering the Mid-Atlantic: Restoring Energy Affordability and Reliability”—will bring together legislators from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia, along with representatives from PJM Interconnection, which manages the electric grid across 13 states and the District of Columbia.
The hearing is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Room 150 of the House Office Building at 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis. A press conference is expected to follow. For those who can’t attend they will be streaming the event on their social media channels.
Focus on Costs, Reliability, and Policy Tradeoffs
Organizers say the session will examine the drivers behind escalating electricity prices across the Mid-Atlantic, including the effects of forced generation retirements, capacity constraints, and regulatory decisions that impact grid stability and ratepayer affordability.
“The region is facing a serious affordability and reliability crisis,” the advisory states, noting that testimony will address how policy choices—particularly around energy generation and retirement mandates—may be contributing to higher costs for households and businesses.
The hearing comes amid growing public concern over utility bills in Maryland and neighboring states, especially as winter demand, electrification mandates, and infrastructure transition costs continue to pressure the regional grid.
Bipartisan and Regional Participation
The event will include members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, lawmakers from surrounding states within the PJM footprint, and invited energy policy specialists and grid reliability analysts. Media and members of the public are invited to attend in person, with livestream coverage planned on the caucus’s social media platforms.
While the caucus has been critical of current energy policies, organizers say the hearing is intended to surface data, expert analysis, and regional perspectives rather than advance specific legislation at this stage.
Why It Matters
Maryland remains deeply tied to PJM’s regional market, meaning decisions made at the grid and regulatory level affect electricity prices well beyond state borders. With affordability emerging as a top concern for voters across the region, Friday’s hearing is expected to preview policy debates likely to surface during the 2026 legislative session and beyond.
MDBayNews will continue to track developments from the hearing and any legislative proposals that emerge from the discussion.
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