HB1 and the Politics of Distraction as Utility Bills Keep Rising

By MDBayNews Staff

As Maryland households struggle to keep up with rising electricity and gas bills, House Bill 1 (HB1) has become a flashpoint in Annapolis — not because of what it does, but because of what critics say it doesn’t do.

Democratic leaders have pitched HB1 as a consumer-protection measure aimed at stopping utilities from passing along excessive executive pay, bonuses, office renovations, or perks like private jets to ratepayers. But Republicans argue the bill is largely symbolic, duplicative, and disconnected from the real drivers of Maryland’s utility costs.

“A Bill About Nothing”

That critique has been echoed by multiple Republican lawmakers, including Kathy Szeliga, who framed the issue bluntly on social media:

“While you can’t afford your BGE bill, HB1 tells utility companies they can’t renovate their office spaces because that’s what’s making your bill so high. It’s a bill about nothing. The PSC can already do all of this. It’s a supply and demand problem compounded by the green energy scam.”

Szeliga’s comment reflects a broader Republican argument: that HB1 focuses on politically appealing villains — executives and office space — while ignoring the structural policies that have pushed energy prices higher across the state.

What the PSC Already Can Do

At the center of the debate is the Maryland Public Service Commission, which already has sweeping authority over what utilities are allowed to recover from ratepayers.

During rate cases, the PSC can:

• Disallow excessive executive compensation
• Reject unreasonable corporate expenses
• Exclude nonessential overhead from customer rates

Critics argue HB1 does not meaningfully expand that authority. Instead, it restates powers regulators already possess — creating the appearance of action without guaranteeing lower bills.

As Matt Morgan, a Republican representing St. Mary’s County, has argued, if regulators already have the power to block these costs, the legislation raises an obvious question: why is this the priority?

The Costs HB1 Doesn’t Touch

Republicans and center-right analysts point out that the fastest-growing components of Maryland utility bills are largely untouched by HB1, including:

• State renewable energy mandates that increase generation costs
• Grid upgrades required for electrification and climate goals
• Supply shortages and regional transmission constraints
• Long regulatory timelines that discourage competition

These policies, critics argue, directly affect supply and demand — the fundamentals of energy pricing — yet receive far less scrutiny in Annapolis than executive compensation.

Optics Over Outcomes

From a center-right perspective, HB1 exemplifies a broader pattern in Maryland politics: legislation designed to signal concern rather than deliver measurable relief.

Targeting office renovations or bonuses may poll well, critics say, but it does little for families deciding whether to turn down the thermostat or delay other household expenses.

As utility bills remain elevated, the political risk for lawmakers is clear. Voters are less interested in symbolic wins than in tangible results — and increasingly skeptical of legislation that promises protection without lowering costs.

For now, opponents of HB1 remain unconvinced that the bill addresses the real problem. In their view, Maryland doesn’t have a utility executive pay crisis. It has an energy policy problem — and HB1 leaves it largely untouched.

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