The Maryland Public Service Commission will conduct two virtual public hearings to gather input from customers and stakeholders on Washington Gas Light Company’s proposal to raise its natural gas distribution rates, with sessions set for March 24 and April 7, 2026.
The hearings, both starting at 6 p.m., provide opportunities for public comment on the utility’s December 29, 2025, application in Case No. 9849. Washington Gas, which serves nearly 520,000 Maryland customers—including those in Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties—seeks to increase annual base rate revenues by $82.5 million. After incorporating approved Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (STRIDE) revenue requirements, the incremental increase totals $67.1 million. The company states its proposed rate design would result in an approximate 5.3% increase in the total bill for the average residential customer, with rates potentially effective July 27, 2026.
To participate in either hearing, individuals must email kimberly.schock@maryland.gov by noon on March 20 for the first session and by noon on April 3 for the second. Approved participants will receive a virtual meeting link. Recordings will be posted to the Commission’s YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/@MarylandPSC.
Written comments can be submitted electronically via the Commission’s Public Comments Dropbox at https://www.pscmaryland.com/online-services/file-a-public-comment/. First-time users must register before filing in Case No. 9849. Mailed comments are accepted until June 1, 2026, addressed to Andrew S. Johnston, Executive Secretary, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 16th Floor, 6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Evidentiary hearings in the case begin May 18, 2026, with a Commission decision expected by late July 2026. The proposal follows the utility’s earlier STRIDE-related filings and occurs amid broader scrutiny of gas infrastructure spending under Maryland’s Next Generation Energy Act, which took effect June 1, 2025, and aims to prioritize safety and cost-effectiveness in pipeline replacements.
Washington Gas serves Southern Maryland counties, including St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert, where customers can see bill impacts from any approved changes. The case draws attention as residential energy costs remain a concern in the region, though specific local impacts depend on final PSC rulings.
The Commission suspended the proposed tariff revisions for up to 180 days from January 28, 2026, per Public Utilities Article §4-204. This allows time for review, interventions, and public participation before implementation.