Public Service Commission of Maryland

The Public Service Commission was established in 1910 to regulate public utilities and transportation companies doing business in Maryland (Chapter 180, Acts of 1910). Initially composed of three members, the commission currently consists of five members appointed by the governor for five-year terms. One serves as chairman of the commission, and an attorney is appointed to function as general counsel (Code 1957, Article 78).

The Public Service Commission maintains jurisdiction over all gas, electric, steam heating, telephone, water, and sewage disposal companies in the State. This authority includes setting utility rates based on the reasonableness of proposed rates, reviewing plans of service, inspecting equipment, auditing financial records, and enforcing established rules and regulations in order to provide quality service to the public. While maintaining its basic purpose, the commission also works to incorporate increases in technology associated with transportation, utilities, and telecommunication within its supervision.

The commission enforces compliance to established standards through regular inspections of companies within its jurisdiction. Record keeping is prescribed by the commission and each is required to submit an annual report to the commission specifying its financial status, manner of operation, rates, and services.

Upon complaints from consumers, the commission conducts investigations and holds hearings to settle disputes associated with services. It has the power to decide cases pertaining to rate adjustment, and the quality of utility and common carrier service; and is often required to defend its decisions on appeal to state courts, and intervene in relevant cases before regulatory commissions and federal courts. All applications by public utilities to exercise or discontinue franchises and to issue securities must be approved by the commission. It also issues certifictes of public convenience and necessity for the construction of new generating stations or high-voltage transmission lines (Code 1957, Art. 78, sec. 1-107).

The commission regulates the safety, rates and service of transportation companies who provide their services for hire to passengers or freight within Maryland, except those under the jurisdiction of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Commission (Chapter 613, Acts of 1959). The regulated firms include certain freight carriers, most passenger carriers, all water transportation companies, all railroads, and taxicabs in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cumberland, and Hagerstown. Taxicab drivers in Baltimore City must also be licensed by the commission.

While the jurisdiction of the commission is limited to intrastate service, it is authorized to make joint investigations, hold joint hearings, and issue joint or concurrent orders in conjunction with official state or federal commissions under the concurrent powers of the states to regulate interstate commerce as an agency of the federal government (Code 1957, Article 78, section 59). The commission is also represented on joint boards created by the Interstate Commerce Commission to hear proceedings pertaining to interstate motor carrier operations conducted in or through not more than three states.

From the description of Agency history, 1910-. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122582015