Maryland Now opens its debut season with a deep examination of how a single piece of legislation from 1999 reshaped Maryland’s electricity market and helped set the stage for some of the energy challenges the state faces today. Hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin walk through the political forces, policy decisions, and long-term consequences that contribute to the high electric bills Marylanders are opening this winter. With energy prices rising sharply and lawmakers under pressure to respond, this episode connects the past to the present and highlights why the 2026 legislative session is so pivotal.

Episode Overview

Marylanders across the state are seeing unusually high utility bills after weeks of freezing temperatures. At the same time, the General Assembly has kicked off a session that will be dominated by energy policy, affordability, and the search for solutions.

This episode explores why electricity prices are spiking, how data centers and the grid operator's planning failures are driving demand, why there are no short-term fixes, the political pressure of an election year, the influence of utilities, lobbyists, and major industrial players, and how consumers often get sidelined in complex policy debates.

But mostly, the episode travels back to 1999, when Maryland lawmakers — under pressure from Enron, industrial giants, and legislative leaders — passed a sweeping deregulation bill that fundamentally changed how electricity is generated and sold.

You’ll hear insights from three major players from that 1999 legislative debate — and from a consumer advocate who helps Marylanders struggling with their utility bills. They break down the rushed negotiations, the rate freezes, the political maneuvering, and the ripple effects that still shape Maryland’s energy landscape.

Key Topics Covered

• The 2026 energy crisis, including why bills are rising so quickly, how data centers and grid constraints are straining supply, and the steep learning curve lawmakers face.
• The political landscape, including election-year urgency for the governor and General Assembly, partisan divides over renewables, regulation, and market design, and the lobbying power of BGE, Constellation, Exelon, and others.
• The 1999 deregulation battle, including Enron’s national push for market competition, how legislative leaders fast-tracked a complex bill, why most lawmakers didn’t fully understand the implications, and the rate freezes that delayed competition and set up future price shocks.

Why This Episode Matters

Maryland’s electricity system is under significant strain, and the decisions made in 1999 still influence energy debates happening in Annapolis today.

Connect With the Show

Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com

Links & Resources

Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.

Blended Public Affairs: https://www.blendedpublicaffairs.com
Carper Cre8tive: https://www.natecarpercreative.com

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:37) - The 1999 Deregulation Debate
• (02:38) -
• (21:14) - Rate Freezes and Consequences
• (26:41) - Consumer Protection Issues
• (32:54) - Current Crisis and Lessons Learned
• (35:57) - Conclusion