A new rule on natural gas connections will add thousands to the cost of a home for builders and homebuyers at a time when they can least afford it, writes Lori Graf. (Photo by Senior Airman Cydney Lee/U.S. Air Force)
Earlier this summer, the Maryland Public Service Commission issued a ruling that marks a dramatic departure from decades of balanced energy policy. Under the new proposal, Marylanders must pay the full upfront cost of connecting to natural gas – often hundreds or thousands of dollars – rather than paying those costs over time.
This change is no minor technicality. By requiring new customers and homebuilders to shoulder the full upfront cost of establishing natural gas service, the commission is putting an affordable, reliable energy option out of reach for many families and businesses. This comes as residents are already facing record-high energy bills and the state’s electric grid is struggling to keep up with demand. And it means extra costs for homebuilders and developers that will likely be passed on to homebuyers…