Baltimore Sun

Gov. Martin O’Malley laid out a blueprint today for a partial return to a regulated energy industry, rejecting a decade-old policy that was intended to lower consumer prices through market competition but is widely regarded as a failure.

In the midst of an outcry over budget-busting utility bills, O’Malley unveiled a plan that would allow the state to regulate future power plants if such a move is determined to be in the best interest of customers.

The proposal also would allow the state to decide when new plants are built, usurping that authority from utilities.