It is the goal of the State that the electric system support, in a cost–effective manner, the State’s policy goals with regard to:
greenhouse gas reduction;
renewable energy;
decreasing dependence on electricity imported from other states; and
achieving energy system resiliency, efficiency, and reliability.
On or before December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly with information regarding the current status of projects designed to promote the goals identified in this section, including information on planning processes and implementation that promote, as specific goals, the following:
measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions incident to electric distribution, including high levels of distributed energy resources and electric vehicles;
giving priority to vulnerable communities in the development of distributed energy resources and electric vehicle infrastructure;
energy efficiency;
meeting anticipated increases in load;
incorporation of energy storage technology as appropriate and prudent to:
support efficiency and reliability of the electric system; and
provide additional capacity to accommodate increased distributed renewable electricity generation in connection with electric transmission and distribution system modernization;
efficient management of load variability;
electric system resiliency and reliability;
bidirectional power flows;
demand response and other nonwire and noncapital alternatives;
increased use of distributed energy resources, including electric vehicles;
transparent stakeholder participation in ongoing electric system planning processes; and
any other issues the Commission considers appropriate.
The General Assembly strongly encourages the electric companies of the State to pursue diligently federal funds to meet the State’s policy goals for the electric system, including funds made available under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
The Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration shall provide assistance and support to electric companies for applying for and obtaining access to federal and other available funds to meet the State’s policy goals.
The Maryland Energy Administration shall identify funding sources that may be available to electric companies to implement the State’s policy goals under § 7–802 of this subtitle, including funding for:
increasing the efficiency of electric systems, including through installation and integration of energy storage devices and operational changes and upgrades;
grid–hardening activities to reduce the occurrence of or consequences of events that disrupt operations of the electric system due to extreme weather or natural disasters;
other electric system enhancement activities available for funding under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or the federal Inflation Reduction Act; and
other specific activities that the Commission identifies.
As needed to promote the State’s policy goals under § 7–802 of this subtitle, the Commission:
shall require each electric company to report at least quarterly to the Commission and the Maryland Energy Administration on:
the funding for which the electric company has applied;
the purposes for which the funding is intended to be used;
the status of the funding applications; and
conditions that must be met to obtain the funding; and
shall adopt regulations or issue orders:
that require electric companies to apply for federal and other available funds in a timely manner; and
in order to ensure that least–cost debt is used.
On or before December 31, 2025, the Commission shall adopt regulations or issue orders to:
implement specific policies for electric system planning;
require consideration of investment in, or procurement of, cost–effective demand–side methods and technology to improve reliability and efficiency, including virtual power plants; and
implement specific policies for improvements in order to promote the State’s policy goals under § 7–802 of this subtitle.
The regulations adopted and orders issued under subsection (a) of this section shall:
be developed with consideration given to the inherent differences, individual circumstances, and available resources among investor–owned electric companies, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric utilities; and
if determined necessary by the Commission, establish separate requirements for investor–owned electric companies, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric utilities.