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HB 597

Montgomery County - Community Choice Aggregation Pilot Program - Alterations MC 17-26

2026 Regular Session

HB 597 authorizes Montgomery County to pilot a Community Choice Aggregation program for competitive electricity procurement, potentially reducing costs and increasing renewable energy access for residents and businesses.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 347
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Bill Summary · HB 597

Legislative bill overview

HB 597 would authorize Montgomery County to establish a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) pilot program, allowing the county to procure electricity on behalf of residents and businesses as an alternative to the default utility provider. The bill modifies existing Maryland law (MC 17-26) to enable this local energy procurement experiment within the county's jurisdiction.

Why is this important

CCA programs can potentially lower electricity costs, increase renewable energy adoption, and give communities more control over their energy supply. This pilot would test whether such a model works effectively in Maryland's regulatory environment, potentially serving as a model for other counties while affecting thousands of utility customers' electricity arrangements.

Potential points of contention

  • Utility company opposition: BGE and other incumbent utilities typically resist CCA programs as they reduce their customer base and revenue, potentially leading to lobbying against the bill
  • Cost and implementation uncertainty: Setting up aggregation infrastructure, billing systems, and customer service requires significant upfront investment with uncertain savings projections that could burden county taxpayers
  • Customer protection and defaults: Questions about how customers are enrolled, whether opt-out processes are genuinely accessible, and what protections exist if the CCA program performs poorly or becomes insolvent

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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