Utilities and Energy Law Attorneys in Waldorf, Maryland Serving Maryland Statewide | Call (301) 870-1200 Energy projects in Maryland do not move forward without regulatory approval. Whether you are developing a solar facility, defending a rate case, or fighting a utility decision that affects your business, the Maryland Public Service Commission has the final word. The Law Office of Robert Castro has represented clients in front of the PSC and other state agencies since 1993. Our attorneys work directly with developers, trade associations, counties, and businesses across Maryland. We organize stakeholder meetings, participate in rulemakings, argue in contested evidentiary hearings, and appeal adverse PSC orders to the Circuit Court when needed. If your matter is in front of the PSC, we know the process and the people. Call (301) 870-1200 to speak with our team. Our Areas of Focus We handle energy and utility matters across the full range of regulated industries in Maryland. Our work covers electric and gas, power plants (fossil fuel and renewable, including solar, wind, and offshore wind), water, telecommunications, transportation, and energy efficiency. We represent both regulated entities and the parties who challenge them. Beyond the PSC itself, we coordinate regularly with the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Power Plant Research Program, and the Office of People’s Counsel. Those working relationships matter when you are trying to move a project forward, push back on a utility, or shape a rule that will affect your industry for years. We Represent Independent power producers and developers Solar, wind, and offshore wind project sponsors Counties, municipalities, and local governments Trade associations and industry coalitions Commercial and industrial energy customers Renewable energy manufacturers and installers Ratepayers in disputes with utilities Regulatory Compliance and PSC Proceedings Energy companies operating in Maryland must follow strict state and federal rules on power generation, transmission, and distribution. The Maryland Public Service Commission oversees permitting, licensing, and infrastructure approvals. Missing a step can cost time, money, and the project itself. Our attorneys help clients secure Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCNs), respond to environmental review requirements, and address land use challenges. We also handle zoning approvals, interconnection agreements, and renewable energy compliance. When a regulatory dispute lands in an administrative hearing, an appeal, or litigation, we represent clients through every stage. The CPCN process is a major hurdle for any large generating station or high-voltage transmission line. On average, it takes the PSC roughly 388 days to process a CPCN application and about 60 days for a CPCN exemption, according to the Commission’s own published guidance. That timeline shapes how every project should be planned and budgeted. Beginning the regulatory work early, and coordinating it with environmental review and county consultation, is often the difference between a project that moves and a project that stalls. Renewable Energy Project Support Maryland’s push into solar, wind, and offshore wind has created opportunities, along with a thicker regulatory layer. Renewable developers must work through environmental review, land use restrictions, and interconnection requirements before construction can start. The Renewable Energy Certainty Act of 2025 also introduced a Distributed Generation CPCN pathway, adding another option for qualifying solar projects. Our attorneys assist with CPCN applications, interconnection agreements, contract negotiations, and competitive procurement filings. We have represented developers in offshore wind regulation proceedings and in Offshore Renewable Energy Credit (OREC) procurements. We have also represented multiple independent power producers in state and federal challenges to PSC orders. We understand the practical realities of renewable project development in Maryland, including how to engage county governments early, how to respond to environmental and community concerns, and how to defend a project against intervenors at the Commission. Those steps are not optional for projects of any meaningful size. Utility Rate Cases and Consumer Advocacy When BGE, Pepco, Washington Gas, or another utility files for a rate increase, business and government customers can intervene. So can trade associations and individual ratepayers, in some cases. The decisions made in those proceedings affect what every customer pays for years afterward. We represent clients in PSC rate cases, challenging unjustified increases, excessive service fees, and disputes over energy surcharges. We work with municipalities, businesses, and trade associations to push for fair rate structures. We also handle tariff disputes, billing disagreements, and consumer protection matters when utility providers stray from state or federal rules. Beyond the rate case itself, we advise commercial clients on energy purchasing agreements, regulatory changes that may affect long-term costs, and disputes related to energy service contracts. For commercial customers in particular, the difference between an active legal posture and a passive one in front of the PSC often shows up directly on the bottom line. Energy Infrastructure and Transmission Projects Power plants, transmission lines, and natural gas pipelines need more than capital. They need permits, environmental approvals, and clean relationships with the counties they cross. We provide legal support for project developers, utilities, and local governments at every stage. That includes permitting, land acquisition, right-of-way agreements, zoning approvals, and compliance with Maryland environmental law. When opposition shows up from local governments, intervenors, or environmental groups, we develop the legal strategy to protect the project. We also represent clients in disputes over utility easements, property rights, and infrastructure-related litigation. Mergers, Acquisitions, and Utility Restructuring Major utility transactions in Maryland require PSC approval, and that approval is rarely automatic. Affected counties, customer groups, and competitors often intervene to negotiate conditions or challenge the transaction outright. Our attorneys have represented county governments in some of the largest utility mergers reviewed by the Commission, including the Exelon/Pepco and AltaGas/Washington Gas proceedings. We help clients evaluate transaction impact, negotiate merger conditions, file expert testimony, and preserve their position in the regulatory record. When a merger is approved with conditions, those conditions become enforceable obligations that protect the parties who pushed for them. A Track Record at the PSC Our attorneys have represented clients in some of the most significant energy proceedings in Maryland. Representative matters include: Bluegrass Solar in obtaining a CPCN for an 80 MW solar plant in Queen Anne’s County PSEG before the PSC for a gas plant CPCN, and locally in Prince George’s County for permits Old Dominion Electric Cooperative in obtaining a CPCN for a 1,000 MW gas plant in Cecil County Multiple independent power producers in state and federal challenges of a PSC order Prince George’s County in the Exelon/Pepco merger and the AltaGas/Washington Gas merger proceedings Talbot County in complaints against Choptank before the PSC and Circuit Court Various parties in EmPOWER Maryland energy efficiency proceedings Association of Maryland Pilots in rate cases, tariff proceedings, and diverse supplier proceedings Calpine Corporation in the defeat of the MAPP and PATH transmission lines We also represent renewable developers, manufacturers, installers, and commercial and industrial companies in a wide range of regulatory and contractual proceedings. Frequently Asked Questions What is a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in Maryland? A CPCN is the approval the Maryland Public Service Commission issues for the construction or modification of a new generating station or high-voltage transmission line. Most large-scale power projects in Maryland cannot move forward without one. The application process is long, technical, and best handled with experienced regulatory counsel. How long does the CPCN process take in Maryland? On average, the PSC takes about 388 days to process a CPCN application and about 60 days for a CPCN exemption, according to the Commission. The exact timeline depends on the project size, county input, environmental review, and whether the application is contested. Do you represent clients in Maryland PSC rate cases? Yes. We represent municipalities, businesses, trade associations, and other intervenors in rate cases before the Maryland Public Service Commission. We challenge unjustified rate increases, excessive service fees, and disputes over energy surcharges, and we negotiate fairer rate structures where possible. Do you handle offshore wind and renewable energy proceedings? Yes. Our attorneys have represented parties in the adoption of offshore wind regulations and in OREC procurement proceedings. We also assist solar, wind, and other renewable developers with CPCN applications, interconnection agreements, and competitive procurement filings. Do you serve clients outside Waldorf, Maryland? Yes. We serve clients statewide in Maryland and represent parties in PSC and Circuit Court proceedings across the state, from Cecil County to Queen Anne’s County to Prince George’s County. Call (301) 870-1200 to discuss your matter. Can a PSC decision be appealed? Yes. An adverse PSC order can be appealed to the Maryland Circuit Court. Our attorneys are seasoned litigators and have appealed PSC orders for clients, as well as defended favorable PSC orders when other parties have appealed. Talk to Our Maryland Energy Law Team If you are facing a PSC proceeding, planning a generating station, or fighting a utility decision, the earlier you bring counsel into the matter, the better the outcome usually is. Call (301) 870-1200 to schedule a consultation with our utilities and energy law attorneys in Waldorf, Maryland. Our Waldorf, Maryland Personal Injury Attorneys at Law Office Of Robert Castro, P.A. Also Focuses On The Following Practice Areas: Car accidents Motorcycle accidents Truck accidents Slip and falls Medical malpractice Wrongful death Worker’s Compensation Wrongful Death
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