Maryland Office of People's Counsel

Name

Maryland Office of People's Counsel

Legal name

Maryland Office of People's Counsel

Website

https://opc.maryland.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Consumer Advocacy Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Regulation and Administration of Communications, Electric, Gas, and Other Utilities (926130)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAK

Consumer Rights & Public Interest Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAFADAB

Public Affairs, Government Relations & Lobbying

Business & Public Services/Marketing, Advertising & PR Services/Public Relations & Communications

SECONDARYBPAIACAB

City Clerk/Records, Elections & Civic Engagement

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Utility consumer advocacy
• Regulatory representation
• Consumer education
• Utility rate assistance
• Residential utility protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: OPC is an independent State agency funded through state budget appropriations. As a government agency, it does not generate revenue from commercial operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Maryland Office of People's Counsel is an independent State agency that provides free legal representation, advocacy, and consumer assistance to Maryland residential utility customers. The agency's lawyers and advocates represent residential consumers in utility rate cases and regulatory proceedings before the Maryland Public Service Commission, FERC, State courts, and federal courts. OPC also offers consumer education on utility bills, energy efficiency programs like EmPOWER Maryland, infrastructure programs like STRIDE, and public participation resources.

Product overview

Maryland Office of People's Counsel operates as a unified consumer advocacy service rather than a technology product platform. The organization provides direct consumer assistance, regulatory advocacy, and educational services to Maryland residential utility customers. Its service portfolio centers on utility rate case representation before the Public Service Commission, consumer complaint resolution, financial assistance programs (including EmPOWER Maryland and weatherization assistance), educational webinars and publications, community resource guides, and public participation facilitation. The organization advocates for consumers across multiple utility types including electricity (BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison, SMECO), natural gas (Columbia Gas, Washington Gas), telecommunications, and private water companies. Services are provided through a website-based portal offering informational content, downloadable resources, and direct assistance channels—not as a software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consumer Assistance Services Provides direct assistance to Maryland residential utility customers including financial help with gas and electric bills, utility account problem resolution, medical certification programs, and complaint filing support.
• Consumer Learning Portal Educational resource center covering electricity, future of gas, utility rates, data centers, FERC and PJM issues, renewable energy, private water, telecommunications, energy bill savings, consumer rights, and public participation guidance.
• Community Resource Guides Curated guides connecting residents to community resources and assistance programs for utility-related needs.
• EmPOWER Maryland Program Information Oversight and consumer information about Maryland's utility-customer funded energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction program administered by utilities and DHCD.
• STRIDE Program Information Consumer education about the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Plan for gas utility infrastructure replacement and its impact on utility rates.
• Utility Rate Case Advocacy Legal and regulatory advocacy before the Maryland Public Service Commission representing residential consumers in rate proceedings for electric and gas utilities including BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, Potomac Edison, Columbia Gas, Washington Gas, and SMECO.
• Public Participation Programs Resources helping consumers participate in public hearings, submit comments to the Public Service Commission, and engage in regulatory proceedings.
• Educational Webinars Live expert-led webinars providing 15-30 minute sessions on energy use, utility bill reading, and energy efficiency topics, hosted by OPC's Director of Consumer Assistance.
• Publications and Reports Consumer guides, reports on gas utility spending, legislative work, and other publications on utility consumer issues.

Quantifiable outcome

• Billions of dollars saved for Maryland utility customers since 2008 through EmPOWER programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Association of Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPC is a member of NASUCA, an association of government and nonprofit agencies representing consumer interests in energy and telecommunications services across over 40 states. NASUCA establishes positions through Resolution approval and provides policy support for testimony in federal regulatory proceedings, enhancing OPC's influence on behalf of Maryland residential consumers.
• MEA Strategic Energy Investment Fund (SEIF) Advisory BoardcoreOthersThe People's Counsel serves on the MEA Strategic Energy Investment Fund Advisory Board, which addresses issues impacting residential utility consumers related to strategic energy investments in Maryland.
• Consumer Advocates of PJM States (CAPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPC participates in Consumer Advocates of PJM States, an organization of state consumer advocates working on issues before PJM Interconnection affecting residential utility consumers in the PJM region.
• Maryland Clean Energy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOPC participates in the Maryland Clean Energy Center, which promotes clean energy development and addresses issues at the intersection of consumer interests and clean energy policy.
• Maryland Commission on Climate ChangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe People's Counsel serves on the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, addressing climate-related issues that impact residential utility consumers and their energy costs.
• Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure CouncilminorOthersOPC participates in the Zero Emission Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council, addressing EV infrastructure issues that may affect residential utility consumers.
• DHR OHEP Advisory BoardcoreOthersOPC serves on the DHR OHEP Advisory Board related to the Office of Home Energy Programs, helping low-income households with energy assistance.
• DHCD Weatherization Advisory BoardcoreOthersOPC participates in the DHCD Weatherization Advisory Board, addressing weatherization assistance programs for residential utility customers.
• Building Energy Transition Implementation TaskforceminorOthersOPC participates in the Building Energy Transition Implementation Taskforce, addressing building energy efficiency and transition issues affecting residential consumers.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maryland Public Service Commission: The state regulatory body before which OPC litigates. The two bodies play complementary roles: PSC regulates and OPC represents residential consumer interests in those same proceedings.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate: Independent Pennsylvania state agency with the same statutory mandate to represent residential utility consumers in proceedings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. Directly comparable in mission, scope, and advocacy model to OPC.
• California Public Advocates Office (CalPA): Independent consumer advocate within the California Public Utilities Commission that represents residential and small commercial utility customers in regulatory proceedings. Closely comparable mission to Maryland OPC.
• New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel: New Jersey state division that represents ratepayers in utility proceedings before the NJ Board of Public Utilities. Same statutory consumer advocacy function as Maryland OPC.
• Office of the People's Counsel for the District of Columbia: DC's independent ratepayer advocate before the DC Public Service Commission, with the same mandate structure as Maryland OPC and overlapping territory with Pepco and Washington Gas customers.

Others

• Public Citizen's Energy Program: National nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that files comments and intervenes in utility and energy proceedings before FERC. Adjacent, not directly comparable, but works in overlapping federal forums.
• Environmental Defense Fund (Energy Program): National nonprofit that intervenes in FERC and state utility proceedings on behalf of clean energy and consumer interests. Overlaps with OPC's environmental/consumer mandate at the federal level.

Emerging players

• National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA): Membership association of 40+ state consumer advocate offices including Maryland OPC. Coordinates testimony in federal regulatory proceedings and amplifies state-level consumer advocacy in FERC and PJM forums.
• Maryland Legal Aid Bureau: Nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income Maryland residents, including on utility matters. Shares target population (low-income utility consumers) and source of OPC attorney Jacob Ouslander, but broader in legal scope.
• Consumer Advocates of PJM States (CAPS): Coalition of state consumer advocates (including OPC) that participate in PJM Interconnection stakeholder processes. Comparable regional coordination function with direct overlap in PJM-related advocacy work OPC performs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-office-of-people's-counsel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Office of People's Counsel