Potomac Edison has received regulatory approval to launch an $11.1 million pilot program aimed at helping local school districts in Maryland transition to electric school buses, the utility said, as the state moves to implement stricter zero-emission vehicle requirements.
The pilot, approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, will fund up to 28 electric school buses across Potomac Edison’s Maryland service territory. The program will cover the cost difference between diesel and electric buses, install charging infrastructure, and support testing of vehicle-to-grid technology that allows stored energy in bus batteries to be fed back into the electricity network.
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Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., said it will absorb the roughly $250,000 per-vehicle price premium associated with electric school buses, as well as pay for charging equipment and required electrical upgrades at school facilities. The initiative is designed to reduce upfront financial barriers for school districts as Maryland enforces its zero-emission mandate.
“By removing the cost hurdles and providing technical support, we are helping school systems make this transition in a practical way,” Jim Myers, FirstEnergy’s president for West Virginia and Maryland, said. “This program is about affordability, reliability and preparing communities for a cleaner transportation future.”
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The pilot aligns with Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, which requires public school systems to purchase or contract only zero-emission vehicles going forward. Potomac Edison said the program will provide not only financial support but also hands-on assistance, including guidance on charger placement, installation management and training for school personnel on vehicle operation and charging procedures.
A central element of the initiative is testing vehicle-to-grid technology, which enables bidirectional power flow between electric buses and the grid. Potomac Edison said the trials will examine whether energy stored in idle school bus batteries can be dispatched back to the grid during emergencies, potentially enhancing system resilience for customers.
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The utility serves about 285,000 customers in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties in Maryland. The pilot is expected to begin in early 2026 and will run for up to five years or until the allocated funds are fully used.
