MARYLAND (WBFF) — State lawmakers spent hours debating a massive energy package on Tuesday, which has been proposed in an attempt to lower costs for customers. The bill, which was first introduced late last week, passed in the House and will now head to the Senate.

The Utility RELIEF Act, unveiled by Governor Wes Moore and other top lawmakers, is estimated to save Marylanders at least $150 dollars annually in energy bill savings. The legislation, which is quickly speeding through the General Assembly, is a combination of ideas from numerous other bills, which were previously debated in committees.

“This bill will save money now and it will save money in the future,” House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said. “This bill is worth voting for because you can go home and say you did more. This is immediate, but it is also the future.”

“Both parties on both sides are not happy. That is how you can tell a bill is good,” she added.

“We’ve bet that we’re going to get out of the energy crisis with wind and the solar, and that is foolish, and that’s what’s costing you money in the state of Maryland,” House Minority Leader Delegate Jason Buckel said. “$12 bucks a month that’s great, we’re all going to support any kind of ratepayer relief we can, reasonably, but the cost of a Big Mac is not going to change when Maryland’s energy prices have gone up almost 50% since 2020.”

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There are many provisions in the proposed legislation, which include funding for additional clean energy projects, requires utility companies to prioritize using advanced transmission and grid-enhancing technologies, gets rid of financial incentives for utility companies joining the PJM region, and makes major changes to the state’s EmPower energy efficiency program.

“It rolls back the goal a little bit,” Delegate Marc Korman, Chair of the House Environment and Transportation Committee, said. “Instead of the goal going up next year, it’s going to go down. It eliminates gas EmPower entirely.”

This bill also makes changes to the large load tariff, lowering the threshold for which large customers fall into that category, making sure large customers like data centers help cover the cost. The bill also makes changes to multi-year rate plans, allowing reconciliation in the event ratepayers benefit.

Other provisions include limiting how much ratepayer money can be used to high salaries at utility companies, provisions requiring underground transmission lines to go through the state regulatory process, as well as changes to policies that have limited competition in the state.

“EmPower is the bulk of it. There are other policy changes that will lead to additional savings,” Senate President Bill Ferguson said Friday.

“We can’t put an exact dollar amount on that, so that’s why we’re saying at least $150 per year,” he added.

With an estimated $150 annual savings, Republicans have been quick to push back on the legislation, arguing the cost savings doesn’t go far enough.

“$12 a month. It’s unacceptable. It is not enough,” Del. Jesse Pippy said. “You heard it from the horse’s mouth. $12 a month when the average Marylander is paying hundreds more.”

During first House session Tuesday, Republicans proposed numerous amendments to this bill, which were not successful. Some of those amendments include withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative, eliminating EmPower entirely and putting a moratorium on data centers.

High winds that swept through central Maryland on Monday knocked out power for thousands of BGE customers and left crews working around the clock to restore service.

BGE said initial assessments indicate tree damage, wires down and damaged electric equipment throughout its service area.

The company said its storm center is mobilized and crews are responding across the region.

As of 1 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, about 8,800 BGE customers were without service, representing 315 restoration jobs in locations across central Maryland. BGE said the highest number of outages were in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties and Baltimore City, and that damage is spread throughout its service area. The company said it has already restored service for more than 17,600 customers.

BGE said it increased staffing ahead of the storm and took additional preparedness steps. The company said 30 mutual assistance personnel are scheduled to arrive Tuesday to support restoration work.

BGE’s restoration timeline calls for 80% of customers who lost power on Monday, March 16, to be restored by 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17. The company said it expects the vast majority of remaining customers to be restored by 11 p.m. Tuesday, March 17.

BGE said several factors can affect restoration, including the need to remove trees and limbs before repairs can begin, the challenge of assessing widespread damage, and “nested outages,” when some customers remain out after a larger issue is fixed because of additional damage elsewhere on the line. The company also noted that it is unsafe to operate bucket trucks in high winds.

BGE said its restoration priorities include public safety and essential services such as 911 centers, hospitals and pumping stations. After that, restoration is generally scheduled to bring back the greatest number of customers as quickly and safely as possible, though in extended outages the company said it also considers customers who have been without service the longest.

Customers can report outages online at BGE.com, through BGE’s mobile app, by texting 69243, or by calling 877-778-2222. BGE said those reporting services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and customers can sign up for email and text notifications at BGE.com/alerts. The latest outage information is available on the BGE.com outage map.

BGE also urged residents to stay away from downed power lines, saying fallen overhead lines should never be approached or touched even if they do not appear to be live or sparking. Downed lines can be reported by calling 877-778-2222.

For gas-related emergencies, BGE said anyone who smells gas should leave the area immediately, go at least 100 feet away and contact 911 or BGE at 877-778-7798.