On March 20, 2025, Sierra Club and the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) landed a win at the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC agreed with Sierra Club and OPC that Washington Gas and Light (WGL) was sending customers misleading statements with inaccurate climate claims. In billing statements sent to ratepayers, WGL made sweeping claims that burning gas in their homes rather than relying on electricity would result in significant emission reductions, equivalent to planting trees or driving fewer miles in a car—but WGL was unable to cite any reputable studies or sources to substantiate those claims. Moreover, WGL’s statements contradicted Maryland climate laws requiring that the state replace gas appliances with electric ones in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, as well as multiple studies demonstrating that replacing gas-powered appliances with electric alternatives, such as heat pumps, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In its March 20 decision, the PSC emphasized that utilities “must act in the public’s interest and ensuring the information provided to customers is accurate and not misleading is imperative.” The PSC found that WGL’s “billing statements were misleading based upon the lack of context, specificity, and qualifying statements,” and noted that WGL’s “inability to explain how the billing statements were developed and verify the accuracy is particularly alarming.” This decision was the culmination of a multi-year effort, beginning when OPC filed a complaint alleging misleading advertising in 2021, which Sierra Club joined.
As a next step, the PSC will decide whether to impose civil penalties on Washington Gas for its misleading advertising. This is just one example of many ways that gas companies mislead their customers. Sierra Club continues to do the critical work of calling them out and holding them accountable. Sierra Club was represented in this case by Staff Attorney Sari Amiel and Earthjustice.