Prince George's County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Prince George's County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
County-owned grocery store feasibility
A resolution directing staff to develop an implementation plan for a county-owned grocery store was introduced but sent to committee after a rule-suspension vote fell short.
Energy infrastructure planning and grid reliability
The county wants to know whether planning utility infrastructure ahead of growth could keep your utility bills lower. The planning commission will study it and report back with recommendations.
2018 Water and Sewer Plan amendments (June 2026 cycle)
Changing water and sewer category designations decides which properties can get public utility service — and that shapes where new development can and can't happen. These cycle amendments could open some areas to growth while keeping others rural.
WSSC FY 2028 budget and water rate increases
WSSC's $2 billion preliminary budget comes with cost-of-service study recommendations of double-digit rate hikes starting at 11.7% in FY 2028, though the utility is planning around a 7% scenario after $29 million in cuts. Committee members pressed on affordability for seniors and fixed-income residents, and WSSC highlighted $10.64 million for customer assistance programs.
WSSC Spending Affordability Limits
The county is setting spending caps on the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission's upcoming water and sewer operating and capital budgets to keep utility costs manageable.
Potomac plant power failure and aging electrical infrastructure
Last week's power failure at the Potomac Water Filtration Plant disrupted water for most of two counties. WSSC blamed obsolete 1975-era electrical equipment and said an assessment confirms the top three highest-risk projects match the failure points; $11.8 million in electrical upgrades are in the FY 2028 budget.
Energy infrastructure planning and utility bills
A proposed study would look at whether master planning for utility use beyond current processes could help lower residents' utility bills.
WSSC FY 2027 water and sewer budget
WSSC briefed the committee on how much public sewer capacity exists countywide — a key constraint on where new development can happen. Sewer availability shapes which properties can be built on and how the county grows.
Utility Shut-Off Moratorium Request
A resolution asking the state to stop utility shut-offs for low-income, senior and medically vulnerable households — and to examine data centers' role in rate hikes — was pushed to October 13.