Open Letter to Maryland State Legislators Regarding the Devastating Impact of Senate Bill 1
Author: Niels Goldstein Date: June 23, 2025
To the Members of the Maryland General Assembly,
I write to you today with outrage and deep concern over the consequences of Senate Bill 1 (SB1) — a bill that has done exactly what its most vocal critics warned it would: obliterate consumer choice, dismantle energy competition, and saddle Maryland households and businesses with unchecked electricity costs.
Let us call this what it is: a catastrophic policy failure.
📉 Proof of Market Collapse
Prior to this misguided legislation, Maryland was a leader in energy choice. As of early 2024, over 300,000 customers exercised their right to select competitive electricity suppliers. By February 2025, that number plummeted to zero.
Within weeks of SB1's passage, major suppliers — NRG, Constellation (retail division), Vistra, Direct Energy, American Power & Gas — withdrew from the Maryland market entirely. Their exit wasn’t a fluke — it was a direct response to legislation crafted and passed by this body.
🔥 The Price of Monopoly: Higher Bills
SB1’s passage has forced consumers back to the Service of Last Resort (SOS) — a system managed solely by utilities like BGE and Pepco, which rely on short-term wholesale procurement. These default services have historically cost more than what long-term competitive suppliers offered.
For example, in 2023, fixed-rate plans in the competitive market offered stable pricing around 9.9¢/kWh — shielding families from market volatility. Now, utility rates fluctuate with wholesale spikes, leaving residents exposed and powerless.
Maryland’s own Public Service Commission (PSC) warned of price shocks. In Baltimore, residents face potential bill hikes of up to 20%, especially during extreme weather.
💼 Economic Fallout & Job Losses
Businesses that helped Marylanders switch providers — like Protocall Communications and Ridge Printing — have sounded the alarm. These companies now face extinction, along with the hundreds of jobs tied to customer support, outreach, and renewable energy program sales.
David Dardis of Constellation confirmed that his company had to reject thousands of consumer requests for competitive service in Maryland. This is not innovation — it’s regression.
❌ Policy Ignored Industry Warnings
Even before passage, every major energy supplier pleaded with this legislature:
“This bill is anti-consumer, anti-business, anti-environment.”
You heard those warnings.
You ignored them.
And now, you’re watching the fallout — and doing nothing to reverse it.
⚖️ Legal and Environmental Consequences
The Retail Energy Advancement League (REAL) has filed a federal lawsuit, citing that SB1 violates principles of fair competition and clean energy access. Their statement is unambiguous:
“This law will drive renewable energy providers out of Maryland, forcing customers back to fossil-fuel dominated utility supply.”
What kind of climate policy is this?
🤝 The Way Forward
Maryland must reverse course. I demand the immediate introduction of a repeal or amendment to SB1, and the reinstatement of a fair and open energy marketplace. Anything less is a betrayal of the principles of choice, competition, and sustainability.
This letter is not just about my bill or my budget. It’s about democratic accountability. You were elected to represent the people of Maryland — not serve as the enforcement wing of a utility monopoly.
Fix this. Or prepare to be held accountable at the ballot box.
📢 Posted publicly: Read this full letter on Medium and share widely.
Respectfully,
Niels Goldstein
Concerned Citizen, Maryland Resident,
Human-AI Collaboration SME - Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture and Information Security