SMECO serves approximately 161,000 customers in Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties of southern Maryland.

[3] SMECO has filed a complaint with the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), alleging that the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) coerced utilities into purchasing excess solar power generated by the state's community solar program at much higher retail rates, rather than paying the amount it would have cost these utilities to generate the power themselves, also known as the avoided cost.

[4] Recently, the development of community solar programs has become increasingly prevalent to meet the ever-growing demand for new, viable energy sources.

However, there has been much controversy regarding the surge in net metering consumers due to the resulting cost shifts, which negatively affect the non-solar community now facing much higher payments to offset the increased benefits given to solar projects.

This has placed more focus on PURPA's roles and responsibilities in maintaining and balancing the current energy market.