The special master overseeing Maryland's future of natural gas review will keep the proceeding narrowly focused on a dozen issues identified by regulators, signaling that he will seek to swiftly advance an exploration of the fuel's role in the state's energy mix.
Special Master Thomas Gorak opted to set a schedule for the high-stakes proceeding distinct from gas utilities' and advocate groups' competing recommendations. In an Oct. 7 order, Gorak noted that the stakeholders had reached "little, if any" agreement on scoping the review, which aims to align future gas system planning with Maryland's climate goals. (Case No. 9707)
The evidentiary process and Gorak's final report to the Maryland Public Service Commission will be key inputs in the commission's effort to establish a transparent framework for long-term gas system planning and identify decarbonization strategies for gas utilities.
Consequently, gas utilities and advocates pitched their preferred approach to managing the proceeding in public comments leading up to a Sept. 16 hearing before Gorak.
Out-of-scope proposals
At the outset of the hearing, Gorak made clear that several stakeholder proposals were beyond the scope of his duties. Therefore, he would not address them.
Those proposals included a request by Washington Gas Light Co. and Columbia Gas of Maryland Inc. to expand the scope of the proceeding to include electric utilities and electric system planning issues.
Gorak also declined to address a proposal by the Maryland Office of the Peoples' Counsel to fast-track discussion on recent changes to the state's pipeline replacement program, as well as to require gas utilities to update their current programs to reflect the new conditions.
Additionally, Gorak said he would not address the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE) recommendation to avoid discussion of future laws and regulations that may impact gas system planning. BGE also said discussion of gas procurement practices should be reserved for another proceeding, but Gorak said that topic is well within his scope.
The Office of People's Counsel said it does not anticipate additional PSC orders until Gorak submits his final report, though commissioners could address some of these issues in other dockets, People's Counsel David Lapp told Platts. Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Compromise schedule
Gorak directed gas utility operators to begin the process by filing testimony on the PSC's 12 discussion items by Feb. 9, 2026. As a first step, having the companies describe their current capacity, supply and planning practices — and how those practices address state climate goals — would give the proceeding focus, he said at the hearing.
Advocates worried that would allow gas utilities to set the agenda. They requested that all parties file initial testimony simultaneously. Gorak aimed to address those concerns by letting the remaining stakeholders file initial testimony alongside their replies to the gas utility filings on May 4, 2026. He also granted BGE's request to allow gas utilities to rebut stakeholder responses.
Gas utilities wanted to spread out testimony on the 12 discussion items over four phases lasting through Sept. 11, 2026. They noted that the future of gas proceedings in other states have lasted several years.
Gorak set discovery for Feb. 11, 2026, through July 27, 2026, and strictly limited information requests to the PSC's 12 discussion items. He set a deadline for stakeholders' final statements in September 2026, earlier than gas utilities preferred but later than advocates recommended.
Gorak will file his final report to the PSC by Dec. 7, 2026.
