BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland’s Public Service Commission has ordered more study of reliability standards for state utilities.

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Public Service Commission Chairman Douglas Nazarian moved to form a group to further study the regulations after attorneys for the commission and utility officials raised questions at a hearing Thursday.

The chairman says the standards should not only measure reliability system-wide, but include customer measures where possible. The standards should also differentiate between normal operating and major event conditions such as storms, and include penalties for failing to meet the standards.

Mikulski also testified at the hearing, calling for tougher standards, saying frequent power outages for Pepco customers have a profound effect on the state’s residents and the economy.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)