Maryland PIRG’s 2023 Energy Efficiency and Consumer Rights Champion

In February, we were proud to present Del. Brian Crosby (St. Mary’s County District 29b) Maryland PIRG’s 2023 Energy Efficiency and Consumer Rights Champion Award.

As the Vice Chair of the Economic Matters Committee and Chair of the Public Utilities Subcommittee, Del. Crosby plays a key role in utility regulation in the state. In 2023, he spearheaded efforts to pass Maryland PIRG’s priority legislation, the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act, through the House of Delegates. Vice Chair Crosby worked with Del. Qi, Chair Wilson, and stakeholders from the Public Service Commission, the Office of the People’s Counsel, consumer groups, environmentalists, and low income advocates to build a compromise around comprehensive legislation to update and improve the state’s energy efficiency program.

The bill that passed the House aligned the program with the state’s climate goals, right sized utility profits, and added consumer protections to ensure the shift does not undermine the program’s history of providing savings and in-home energy efficiency directly to consumers.

Unfortunately, the Senate did not have time to move the bill before the end of the 2023 session.

In 2024, Del. Crosby has reintroduced the bill, which had its hearing in the House Economic Action Committee on February 29th, and is expected to have a vote soon.

Maryland PIRG thanks Del. Crosby for his leadership on energy efficiency, and his focus on ensuring utilities aren’t driving up program costs for outsized profits.

The cleanest, most affordable energy is the energy we don’t use. Dollar for dollar, investments in energy efficiency are one of the best ways to meet our state’s clean energy goals, while delivering heath and financial benefits directly to consumers. We thank Delegate Crosby for his ongoing efforts around energy efficiency, utility regulation, and consumer protection.

You can read more about our 2024 efforts to update and improve EmPOWER Maryland here.