Public Comment Sought Before New Salisbury-to-Virginia Power Lines
SALISBURY, Md. — Local residents and other interested members of the public are invited to comment on a proposal by Delmarva Power & Light Company to rebuild 20.7 miles of the Maryland portion of the Piney Grove-New Church 138 kV overhead transmission line that runs from the utility’s Piney Grove substation in Salisbury, Md. to its New Church substation in Accomack County, Va.
A virtual hearing will take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 7 p.m. before Public Utility Law Judge Christine L. Burke.
In December 2024, Delmarva Power applied to the Maryland Public Service Commission for what is known as a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which grants an applicant the authority to construct a high voltage transmission line in Maryland. According to the application, the utility plans to upgrade the Maryland portion of the line to 230 kV, all within its existing right-of-way in Wicomico and Worcester counties.
In addition to taking comments from the public, the hearing will include a presentation by the applicant, brief statements by the parties, including the Power Plant Research Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (the state’s ratepayer advocate) and the Commission’s Technical Staff, as to their respective roles and recommendations in the case.
Those who would like to speak at the hearing must sign up by August 15, 2025, through the Calendly app on the Commission’s website, www.psc.state.md.us:
· Under ‘Featured Topics’ on the right side of the webpage, click on ‘Public Comment Hearing’
· Click on ‘Case 9766’, and the hearing date and time (Aug 19 at 7 p.m.)
· Click ‘Next’, enter name and email
· Click ‘Schedule Event’
Once the sign-up process is complete, registrants will receive a Zoom link. Otherwise, the hearing can be watched on the PULJ Division’s (MD PSC PULJs) YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2X6wLiP
In addition to the hearing, written comments can be sent by August 22, 2025, electronically through the Commission’s online portal at https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-a-public-comment/, or by mail. Comments sent by mail should be addressed to:
Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk
Maryland Public Service Commission
William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
So that they are noted in the proper case file, all comments should reference Case No. 9766. In addition to the online docket, the application is available for review at:
Delmarva Power & Light Company offices, 2530 N. Salisbury Boulevard in Salisbury
Wicomico County Library, 122 S. Division Street in Salisbury
Worcester County Library (Pocomoke City Branch), 301 Market Street in Pocomoke City
Worcester County Library (Snow Hill Branch), 307 North Washington Street in Snow Hill
