Maryland Legislation to Enforce Electricity Use Limits in Buildings

US-based Maryland’s legislature has prepared HB 49, a bill that authorizes the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to set Energy Use Intensity (EUI) limits for large commercial and multifamily buildings. The bill will also impose fines for non-compliance, with estimates suggesting a cost of $8.8 billion for building owners to meet EUI targets. Beginning in 2030, non-compliance fees could reach $78 million per year for building owners in Montgomery County alone, as 63% of buildings are expected to be out of compliance by then. The fines are designed to increase electricity costs significantly for violators.