The Baltimore City Council on Monday adopted a resolution to oppose rate hikes for Baltimore Gas and Electric.City Councilman Zeke Cohen, D-District 1, introduced the resolution and called on the Maryland Public Service Commission to reject the utility’s proposed multiyear rate plan.”It’s important to note that the regulatory body that regulates BGE is the Public Service Commission. That’s why this resolution will go directly to them, but I do believe there is strong support among my colleagues that we hold BGE accountable for their practices,” Cohen said.Cohen said the plan would increase gas distribution rates by 61% and electric distribution rates by 31% over a three-year period. His resolution argues that the plan is unnecessary and costly to ratepayers and that BGE has not been a good partner to city residents. He also said the plan will be harmful from an environmental perspective.”We say to the PSC, ‘Now is not the time for Baltimoreans to subsidize Baltimore Gas and Electric’s expensive build out.’ We are going to hold the line. The council is going to vote tonight on this resolution,” Cohen said. “We hope the Public Service Commission will take a very hard look at this plan and make sure that BGE is held accountable.”The utility, though, is taking issue with the councilman’s math, claiming the plan before the PSC would increase rates by 5% annually. In terms of dollar amounts, monthly bills would increase by $10.36 in each of the three years.BGE responded in a statement to Cohen, calling his words “misrepresentations” with “factual inaccuracies.” The BGE statement said, in part: “Infrastructure investments included in BGE’s proposed 2024-2026 multiyear plan are indispensable to achieving the state of Maryland’s decarbonization goals … If BGE’s multiyear plan is approved in full, there will be a 5% average annual increase in residential bills for combination electric and gas customers in each of the three years.”Much of BGE’s proposed rate increases are to offset the costs of gas infrastructure, which includes gas regulator installation.BGE stated: “Councilman Cohen’s suggestion that BGE identify where to repair, rather than replace gas infrastructure, contradicts a position shared by the PSC, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and law passed by the Maryland General Assembly.”| RELATED: Residents push back against BGE’s new exterior gas systems The BGE statement said Maryland needs the gas infrastructure updates, saying, in part: “BGE is required to maintain a safe and reliable gas delivery system. The work we are doing to upgrade aging and outmoded gas infrastructure is absolutely required to meet that responsibility.”| LINK: BGE’s multi-year infrastructure investment plan (2024-26)Cohen said constituents have complained to his office about BGE’s work and the work of its contractors. He said he wants residents to have more of a voice in where BGE places gas regulators.A judge on July 7 extended a temporary restraining order prohibiting BGE from cutting and/or installing the regulators in Federal Hill, where homeowners fought and objected. The order was extended for another 60 days, which means the utility will not be able to cut off customers’ service or install exterior regulators and meters during that period.The PSC has scheduled a hearing on Aug. 15, saying in a statement that it has received numerous complaints from BGE customers related to the ongoing relocation of gas service regulators from the interior to the exterior of homes.| VIDEO BELOW: City Council holds public hearing on BGE gas regulators
The Baltimore City Council on Monday adopted a resolution to oppose rate hikes for Baltimore Gas and Electric.
City Councilman Zeke Cohen, D-District 1, introduced the resolution and called on the Maryland Public Service Commission to reject the utility’s proposed multiyear rate plan.
“It’s important to note that the regulatory body that regulates BGE is the Public Service Commission. That’s why this resolution will go directly to them, but I do believe there is strong support among my colleagues that we hold BGE accountable for their practices,” Cohen said.
Cohen said the plan would increase gas distribution rates by 61% and electric distribution rates by 31% over a three-year period. His resolution argues that the plan is unnecessary and costly to ratepayers and that BGE has not been a good partner to city residents. He also said the plan will be harmful from an environmental perspective.
“We say to the PSC, ‘Now is not the time for Baltimoreans to subsidize Baltimore Gas and Electric’s expensive build out.’ We are going to hold the line. The council is going to vote tonight on this resolution,” Cohen said. “We hope the Public Service Commission will take a very hard look at this plan and make sure that BGE is held accountable.”
The utility, though, is taking issue with the councilman’s math, claiming the plan before the PSC would increase rates by 5% annually. In terms of dollar amounts, monthly bills would increase by $10.36 in each of the three years.
BGE responded in a statement to Cohen, calling his words “misrepresentations” with “factual inaccuracies.” The BGE statement said, in part: “Infrastructure investments included in BGE’s proposed 2024-2026 multiyear plan are indispensable to achieving the state of Maryland’s decarbonization goals … If BGE’s multiyear plan is approved in full, there will be a 5% average annual increase in residential bills for combination electric and gas customers in each of the three years.”
Much of BGE’s proposed rate increases are to offset the costs of gas infrastructure, which includes gas regulator installation.
BGE stated: “Councilman Cohen’s suggestion that BGE identify where to repair, rather than replace gas infrastructure, contradicts a position shared by the PSC, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and law passed by the Maryland General Assembly.”
| RELATED: Residents push back against BGE’s new exterior gas systems
The BGE statement said Maryland needs the gas infrastructure updates, saying, in part: “BGE is required to maintain a safe and reliable gas delivery system. The work we are doing to upgrade aging and outmoded gas infrastructure is absolutely required to meet that responsibility.”
| LINK: BGE’s multi-year infrastructure investment plan (2024-26)
Cohen said constituents have complained to his office about BGE’s work and the work of its contractors. He said he wants residents to have more of a voice in where BGE places gas regulators.
A judge on July 7 extended a temporary restraining order prohibiting BGE from cutting and/or installing the regulators in Federal Hill, where homeowners fought and objected. The order was extended for another 60 days, which means the utility will not be able to cut off customers’ service or install exterior regulators and meters during that period.
The PSC has scheduled a hearing on Aug. 15, saying in a statement that it has received numerous complaints from BGE customers related to the ongoing relocation of gas service regulators from the interior to the exterior of homes.
| VIDEO BELOW: City Council holds public hearing on BGE gas regulators
