Maryland
How Duquesne Light Co. v. Barasch applies in Maryland: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Administrative Law.
Maryland courts adopt a similar approach as the U.S. Supreme Court in adjudicating split-funding principles in utility regulation cases. The state emphasizes the importance of balancing customer impacts and service quality when determining just and reasonable rates.
In Maryland, the principle from Duquesne Light Co. v. Barasch informs the Public Service Commission's authority to regulate utility rates to ensure they are just, reasonable, and not discriminatory, consistent with statutory parameters set by the Maryland Code, Public Utilities Article.
The court upheld PSC's determination of utility rates as not arbitrary and capricious, reinforcing the application of equitable funding principles.
This case clarified the standard of reasonableness in rate determinations, aligning with federal principles yet tailoring them to state-specific contexts.
Held that the PSC must justify rate increases with comprehensive evidence of service quality and operational costs.
Maryland's application of the Duquesne principles closely mirrors the federal standard, involving a balancing test to assess rate reasonableness. However, Maryland places additional emphasis on the socio-economic implications of rate adjustments on its consumers.
Duquesne Light Co. v. Barasch and similar principles address key topics in Maryland administrative law, likely to appear in essays or multiple-choice questions relating to regulatory practices.