Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB556: Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Limited-Income Mechanisms
Status: Signed into law, May 12, 2026
Authorizing the Public Service Commission to require a water company, sewage disposal company, or water and sewage disposal company to adopt a certain limited-income mechanism subject to the approval of the Commission; and requiring the Commission to study the feasibility of requiring certain companies to adopt a limited-income mechanism to benefit limited-income customers and report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.
What the bill says
An act concerning Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Rate Consolidation and Limited-Income Mechanisms FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission to authorize certain rate consolidations involving two or more water systems or sewage disposal systems; requiring the Commission to allow water companies, sewage disposal companies, and water and sewage disposal companies to aggregate certain revenues and costs for certain purposes…
From the enrolled text, May 19, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Water Companies, Sewage Disposal Companies, and Water and Sewage Disposal Companies - Rate Consolidation and Limited-Income Mechanisms FOR the purpose of requiring the Public Service Commission to authorize certain rate consolidations involving two or more water systems or sewage disposal systems; requiring the Commission to allow water companies, sewage disposal companies, and water and sewage disposal companies to aggregate certain revenues and costs for certain purposes; authorizing the Commission to order gradual adjustments to certain rates charged to a system over a certain time period; applying certain provisions of law regarding limited-income mechanisms to water companies, sewage disposal companies, and water and sewage disposal companies; authorizing the Public Service Commission to require a water company, sewage disposal company, or water and sewage disposal company to adopt a certain limited-income mechanism; requiring the Commission to study the feasibility of requiring certain companies to adopt a limited-income mechanism to benefit limited-income customers; and generally relating to water companies, sewage disposal companies, and water and sewage disposal companies. BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Public Utilities Section 1-101(a), (z), (gg), and (uu) and 4-309(d) Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Public Utilities Section 4-307 and 4-309(a) and (e) 4-309 Annotated Code of Maryland (2025 Replacement Volume …