HB0958 • 2026

Natural Gas – Connection and Line Extension – Discounts and Payment Plans

Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Delegates Buckel , Adams , Arentz , Chisholm , Ghrist , Griffith , Hartman , Hinebaugh , Hornberger , Miller , Rose , and Valentine
Last action: 2026-02-26
Official status: In the House - Hearing 2/27 at 1:30 p.m.
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Natural Gas – Connection and Line Extension – Discounts and Payment Plans

Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from adopting or enforcing a regulation or order that prohibits a public service company from offering a discount or payment plan for the connection or extension of a natural gas line to a customer's property.

What This Bill Does

Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from adopting or enforcing a regulation or order that prohibits a public service company from offering a discount or payment plan for the connection or extension of a natural gas line to a customer's property.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-02-26 House
Hearing canceled
2026-02-26 House
Hearing 2/27 at 1:30 p.m.
2026-02-10 House
Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-02-05 House
First Reading Environment and Transportation
Maryland General Assembly
Text - First - Natural Gas – Connection and Line Extension – Discounts and Payment Plans

Official Summary Text

Prohibiting the Public Service Commission from adopting or enforcing a regulation or order that prohibits a public service company from offering a discount or payment plan for the connection or extension of a natural gas line to a customer's property.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0958*

HOUSE BILL 958
C5 6lr1130

By: Delegates Buckel, Adams, Arentz, Chisholm, Ghrist, Griffith, Hartman,
Hinebaugh, Hornberger, Miller, Rose, and Valentine
Introduced and read first time: February 5, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Natural Gas – Connection and Line Extension – Discounts and Payment Plans 2

FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Public Service Commission from adopting or enforcing 3
a regulation or order that prohibits a public service company from offering a discount 4
or payment plan for the connection or extension of a natural gas line to a customer’s 5
property; and generally relating to natural gas distribution. 6

BY adding to 7
Article – Public Utilities 8
Section 7–321 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13

Article – Public Utilities 14

7–321. 15

THE COMMISSION MAY NOT ADOPT OR ENFORCE ANY REGULATION OR ORDER 16
THAT PROHIBITS A PUB LIC SERVICE COMPANY FROM OFFERING A DISCOUNT OR 17
PAYMENT PLAN FOR THE CONNECTION OR EXTENSION OF A NATURAL GAS LINE TO A 18
CUSTOMER’S PROPERTY. 19

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21