Most people assume utility companies alone are responsible for these rising costs. But there’s another group that deserves much more public attention: the regulators.

Public utilities provide essential services like electricity, gas, water, and telecommunications. Because they are natural monopolies, they are regulated by Public Service Commissions, whose job is to ensure rates remain affordable, reasonable, and in the public interest. Across the country, these commissions are made up of a small number of appointed officials whose decisions affect what every household pays each month.

For decades, these regulatory bodies have largely operated outside the public spotlight. Today, however, as utility bills continue to rise, consumers deserve to know who is making these decisions, and who is being held accountable for them.

One major driver of these increasing costs is the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers. While many elected officials view data centers as economic development opportunities that can generate tax revenue and help close budget gaps, too often the full costs are shifted onto everyday ratepayers. The promised economic benefits don’t always outweigh the financial burden placed on residents, and consumers should not be subsidizing infrastructure built primarily to serve billion-dollar corporations.

As a former president of the Tantallon North Area Civic Association in Fort Washington, representing more than 500 homeowners, I’ve heard firsthand how rising electric bills have become a growing concern in our community. I experienced it myself when, despite having solar panels, a well-insulated home, a programmable thermostat, and a six-year-old heating and cooling system, I received an electric bill of nearly $650 for just 30 days. Rate shock is real, and Maryland families are feeling it. 

If we truly want to lower utility bills, we must look beyond the utility companies themselves and demand greater accountability from the agencies responsible for overseeing them. Public Service Commissions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), PJM Interconnection, and consumer advocacy offices all play critical roles in determining how infrastructure costs are allocated and ultimately what appears on our monthly bills.

It’s time to regulate the regulators.

These agencies should immediately implement a 24-month rate freeze while developing stronger consumer protections that prevent residential customers from bearing the costs of hyperscale data center development. Regulators should also require utilities and data center developers to establish escrow accounts that ensure the companies driving new demand—not families and seniors living on fixed incomes—pay for the necessary infrastructure upgrades.

Maryland families shouldn’t be forced to bankroll the expansion of billion-dollar industries. Regulators exist to protect the public interest. It’s time they put consumers first.

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Herbert Jones, South County Environmental Justice Coalition & Christianne Margeuerite, Communications Director, Progressive Maryland