# Potomac Edison Asks Maryland for a $52.8 Million Distribution Increase: About 5.3% for Homes

> Potomac Edison filed a $52.8 million distribution rate request with the Maryland Public Service Commission in September 2026 (Case No. 9904). The utility puts the average residential impact at about 5.3%. Nothing has been approved.

- URL: https://solarexaminer.com/posts/potomac-edison-maryland-rate-request-2026/
- Site: Solar Examiner (https://solarexaminer.com/)
- Category: News
- Published: 2026-10-15
- Last verified: 2026-10-15
- Author: Tehseen Arbab

## Key takeaways

- Potomac Edison asked the Maryland Public Service Commission for $52.8 million in additional annual distribution revenue, filed September 4, 2026, in Case No. 9904.
- The utility estimates the average residential monthly bill would rise about 5.3%. PowerLines, a rate tracker, reported about $9.47 a month. The two figures may use different usage assumptions.
- At current rates reported by Maryland's Office of People's Counsel, a 1,000 kWh bill is about $141.07; 5.3% of that is about $7.48.
- In its last Maryland case, in 2023, Potomac Edison asked for $50.4 million and was approved for $28.0 million.



Potomac Edison, the FirstEnergy utility serving western and central Maryland, has asked state regulators to raise its distribution rates. The request is in its early stages; the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) has not ruled.

## The Request at a Glance

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Utility | Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy), about 295,000 Maryland customers |
| Counties | All or parts of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery and Washington |
| Case | Maryland PSC Case No. 9904 |
| Filed | September 4, 2026 |
| Requested | $52.8 million in additional annual distribution revenue |
| Residential impact (company) | About 5.3% on the average monthly bill |
| Residential impact (PowerLines) | About $9.47 a month |
| Status | Pending |

## What the Company Says It Is For

Potomac Edison's announcement lists reliability work:

- SCADA technology for better system visibility and faster crew response.
- Replacing substation reclosers and adding circuit ties and automation.
- Reconductoring overhead lines and replacing aging underground cable.
- Removing more high-risk trees near power lines.

The company also says that as of June 1, its Maryland rates were 25% below the average of in-state peers.

## Putting 5.3% in Dollars

Hoodline, citing Maryland's Office of People's Counsel, reported Potomac Edison's current residential rates as of August 2026:

| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| Customer charge | $6.00 a month |
| Distribution | 2.287¢/kWh |
| Supply and transmission (combined) | 11.22¢/kWh |

**At 1,000 kWh (our arithmetic):**

- Current bill: $6.00 + (1,000 × 2.287¢) + (1,000 × 11.22¢) = **$141.07**, before taxes and surcharges.
- 5.3% of that: **about $7.48** a month.
- Distribution portion today: $6.00 + $22.87 = $28.87.

If the whole $7.48 landed on the distribution portion, distribution charges would rise about 26% ($7.48 ÷ $28.87). That is an illustration of why a 5.3% total-bill change can mean a much larger change in one part of the bill. The actual rate design is in the filing, which we did not read.

**The $9.47 question.** PowerLines reported about $9.47 a month. If that is also 5.3%, it implies an average bill near $178.68 ($9.47 ÷ 0.053), which would mean more usage, taxes and surcharges included, or both. We could not confirm which. Treat both as estimates of the request, not of the final outcome.

## History: Last Time It Was Cut Nearly in Half

In its 2023 Maryland case, Potomac Edison requested $50.4 million and was approved for $28.0 million, according to Hoodline. That is 56% of the request ($28.0 ÷ $50.4). The approved increase was about $4.84 a month, about 4.9%, for a customer using 1,000 kWh.

## What Happens Next

The PSC will review the case through testimony from its staff, the Office of People's Counsel and other parties, likely public hearings, and a final order. We could not open the PSC's case docket, which was behind a site security check, so we do not have hearing dates or a decision deadline. Maryland rate cases typically take months. See [how electric rate cases work](/posts/how-electric-rate-cases-work/).

## What It Means for Potomac Edison Customers

1. **No change yet.** Rates change only after a PSC order.
2. **Supply is separate.** This request covers distribution. If you buy supply from a third-party supplier, that price is set by your contract. See [how to compare supplier offers](/posts/how-to-compare-electricity-supplier-offers/).
3. **For solar owners:** under Maryland's net metering, each solar kWh offsets the retail rate, so a higher distribution charge raises its value. See the solar section of our [Maryland guide](/posts/maryland-electricity-rate-changes-2026/).
4. **To comment,** watch for a PSC notice of public hearings, or contact the Office of People's Counsel.

Potomac Edison's West Virginia sister case is separate. See our [West Virginia guide](/posts/west-virginia-electricity-rate-changes-2026/).

## Limitations

Bill figures are the company's or PowerLines' estimates of the request. Current rates come from a news summary of Office of People's Counsel data. We did not read the filing or the PSC docket.

## Sources

- [FirstEnergy, "Potomac Edison Proposes Rate Adjustment to Support Electric System Reliability" (last modified September 8, 2026)](https://www.firstenergycorp.com/newsroom/news_articles/pe-proposes-rate-adjustment.html)
- [Hoodline, "Potomac Edison seeks $52.8 million Maryland distribution revenue increase," September 13, 2026](https://hoodline.com/2026/09/potomac-edison-seeks-52-8-million-maryland-distribution-revenue-increase/)
- [PowerLines, "What drove record-breaking utility rate requests in Q3 2026?," October 7, 2026](https://powerlines.org/what-drove-record-breaking-utility-rate-requests-in-q3-2026/)
- [Forever Cumberland, "Potomac Edison proposes rate increase," September 17, 2026](https://www.forevercumberland.com/2026/09/17/potomac-edison-proposes-rate-increase/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Potomac Edison raising rates in Maryland?

It has asked to. Potomac Edison filed for a $52.8 million distribution increase in Case No. 9904 in September 2026. The Maryland Public Service Commission has not decided the case.

### How much would Potomac Edison bills go up?

The utility says about 5.3% for the average residential customer. PowerLines reported about $9.47 a month. We could not find the usage level behind either figure. At 1,000 kWh and current rates, 5.3% would be about $7.48.

### Which areas does Potomac Edison serve in Maryland?

About 295,000 customers in all or parts of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties, according to the company.

### What did Potomac Edison get in its last Maryland rate case?

In 2023 it requested $50.4 million and was approved for $28.0 million, about $4.84 a month for a 1,000 kWh residential customer, according to Hoodline's summary.


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