The mission of the Maryland Public Service Commission is to ensure safe, reliable, and economic public utility and transportation service to the citizens of Maryland. Today’s guests are Chair Frederick Hoover and Commissioner Kumar Barve.

Frederick H. Hoover was appointed Chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission by Governor Wes Moore for a five-year term beginning on July 1, 2023. He most recently served as Assistant People’s Counsel in the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, representing residential consumers of public utilities, retail energy suppliers and other entities before the Maryland Public Service Commission, courts and federal agencies. Chair Hoover served for more than seven years as director of the Maryland Energy Administration, responsible for coordinating energy policy for the state of Maryland. He subsequently held positions as director of both MEA’s Division of Energy Programs and Division of Renewable Energy. He is a former senior director of the National Association of State Energy Officials, where he directed the electricity policy program including the fuel and grid aspects of both transmission and distribution networks including modernization, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Kumar P. Barve was appointed to the Maryland Public Service Commission in May 2023 by Governor Wes Moore, to fill out a term ending in June 2024. He was later appointed to a new five-year term to begin July 1, 2024. Prior to his appointment, he had served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 1991, holding leadership roles including Chair of the Environment and Transportation Committee, Majority Leader, and Chair of the Montgomery County House delegation. While in the General Assembly he worked on issues including environmental regulation, energy generation and conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction. Notably, he was the first Indian-American in the country to be elected to a state legislature.

Show Notes:

[2:31] - The mandate of the Public Service Commission is to maintain reliable, safe, affordable, essential utility services to all customers and oversee the impact.
[4:43] - Chair Hoover and Commissioner Barve describe how the Maryland Brighter Tomorrow Act aligns with the state’s overall energy goals.
[9:27] - The energy generation mix is a large complicated process.
[12:40] - There’s a greater use of digital products to control energy usage in the home. Homes have become more efficient.
[13:55] - Eventually there will be a situation where houses, buildings, and cars will be building, storing, and using energy simultaneously.
[14:40] - The United States is currently re-industrializing.
[17:58] - It is part of their responsibility to ensure that the investments that are made by the utility company are made across their distribution system.
[19:27] - Commissioner Barve describes the efforts made and the state’s legislature to aid low and moderate income individuals in Maryland.
[20:30] - Utility companies do not make money off of selling electricity.
[22:38] - Chair Hoover shares the feedback they receive when engaging with utility companies as it pertains to renewable energy.
[24:24] - This is an open and transparent process.
[26:40] - How have prices evolved over the last decade and where are they trending?
[29:55] - Both Chair and Commissioner share what excites them about the work they do.
[32:14] - Both share advice to those who are entering the industry.

Links and Resources:

• Maryland Public Service Commission Website