Keeping the Power On

Councilmembers Adams-Stafford And Hunter Call For a Moratorium On Utility Shutoffs

For Prince George’s County residents facing household expenses, two proposed County Council resolutions aim to address both immediate financial pressures and opportunities for lasting economic stability.

Council Members Shayla Adams-Stafford and Danielle Hunter are sponsoring CR-081-2026, which calls on the Maryland Public Service Commission to temporarily halt utility shutoffs during winter and summer. The requested moratorium would cover December through February and June through August, offering seasonal protection when households depend on heating and cooling.

The resolution asks the state commission to act; it does not itself establish a countywide shutoff ban.

A companion proposal, CR-084-2026, would take a longer view of residents’ financial futures. Sponsored by Adams-Stafford, the “Own the Block” initiative would direct the county’s Economic Development Corporation to develop a curriculum teaching residents how to acquire commercial property.

The proposals reflect two of Adams-Stafford’s District 5 legislative priorities: “Power You Can Count On” and “A Stake in the Block You Live On.”

Together, the measures pair a push for essential-service protections with education intended to broaden access to property ownership. Their shared goal: help residents manage today’s costs while opening pathways toward generational wealth in District 5 and communities throughout Prince George’s County.