edited by Shannon Rogers
State Regulators Invite Community Input on High-Voltage Utility Upgrade
Carroll County residents and property owners will have an opportunity this fall to weigh in on a major regional electrical infrastructure project. The Maryland Public Service Commission has scheduled a virtual public comment hearing on a proposal by The Potomac Edison Company to construct a new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line across portions of Carroll County.
The virtual hearing is set for Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. State regulators have delegated the case, officially designated as Case No. 9803, to the Public Utility Law Judge Division, with Chief Public Utility Law Judge Kristin Case Lawrence presiding.
Project Scope and Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
Under Maryland utility law, energy providers seeking to build, expand, or significantly modify high-voltage utility infrastructure must secure a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the state regulatory commission. Potomac Edison originally filed its application for the CPCN in July 2025, proposing to rebuild and upgrade existing transmission infrastructure to bolster electrical capacity and regional reliability.
According to formal regulatory filings, the utility proposes to construct the new 230 kV line along the existing Carroll-Germantown 138 kV transmission corridor that passes through Carroll County. Upgrading the existing alignment rather than acquiring entirely new rights-of-way is designed to minimize broader environmental and property disruptions, though property owners along the corridor have raised important questions regarding structure heights, construction activity, and long-term land impacts.
In addition to hearing directly from the public, the upcoming proceeding will feature technical presentations and evaluations by key state agencies. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Power Plant Research Program will present findings assessing the environmental, ecological, and cultural impacts of the proposed upgrade, followed by recommendations from the Public Service Commission’s own technical staff.
Growing Scrutiny Over Utility Infrastructure and Rate Pressures
The proposed transmission project arrives during a period of heightened statewide attention to energy infrastructure, grid modernization, and escalating utility costs. Across Maryland, regulators and consumer advocates have been closely examining utility spending requests to ensure that infrastructure upgrades deliver clear, measurable reliability enhancements without placing undue cost burdens on local households.
As reported by Maryland Matters, state energy regulators and the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel have continued pushing back against unnecessary capital expenditure proposals, seeking to balance essential grid modernization with consumer affordability. For Carroll County families and business owners, public comment hearings offer a crucial forum to evaluate whether proposed local transmission upgrades align with community priorities and long-term energy demands.
How Carroll County Residents Can Participate
Members of the public who wish to speak during the October 29 virtual hearing must complete an advance registration by Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Registration can be completed online via the Maryland Public Service Commission’s public comment portal by selecting Case No. 9803. Registered participants will receive a direct access link via email prior to the start of the session.
For individuals unable to attend the live virtual hearing, written comments may also be submitted to the commission. Written testimony can be uploaded electronically through the commission’s online portal or mailed directly to state regulatory offices:
- Case Reference: Case No. 9803 (Potomac Edison CPCN)
- Mail Address: Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202
- Written Comment Deadline: Friday, November 6, 2026
For community members who simply wish to monitor the proceedings without speaking, a live broadcast and subsequent recording of the hearing will be made available through the Public Utility Law Judge Division’s official online channels.
