In commentary for the Baltimore Sun, Maryland State Del. Brooke Lierman and State Sen. Mary Washington continued to push for their proposed bills from last session (S.B. 685 and H.B. 1224) that would prohibit retail energy suppliers from serving customers participating in an energy assistance program, except where the supplier guarantees savings versus SOS.

Citing previously reported data, the lawmakers write, "From 2014 to 2017, Maryland households lost millions of dollars using third-party suppliers, paying about $255 million more for electricity than if they had simply stayed with their regulated utility provider."

The lawmakers write, "If a low-income household on third-party energy supply paid an extra $500 a year for choosing deregulated supply, there’s a greater chance they will get behind on their utility bill. The average OHEP household had about $16,000 in income in 2018. If that household later applied for and received a $500 OHEP grant, that grant was wasted on the premium price paid for utilities and still didn’t help the family by making utility costs affordable."

The lawmakers write, "Some third-party suppliers have targeted low-income consumers through aggressive door-to-door sales and setting up tables outside Department of Social Services offices, where residents apply for energy assistance."

See the full op-ed here