Baltimore homeowners could soon have more say in what gas equipment is installed on their property.Baltimore City’s Public Service Commission held a hearing last week that came and went without a decision on the controversial exterior gas regulators Baltimore Gas and Electric intended to install on homes in the city.City council members are getting impatient.| RELATED: ‘Something has gone awry’: PSC holds hearing on gas regulators”We’ve been waiting for the PSC to take action on it. They have failed to take action on it repeatedly,” Councilmember Eric Costello said. “If the PSC is not going to take action, the city council is.”A bill introduced Monday evening would require BGE to obtain the property owner’s consent before a permit to install regulators could be issued.| RELATED: Bill would ban external gas regulators across BaltimoreHomeowners from across Baltimore have been taking a stand against the new external gas regulators, leading to a temporary restraining order, stalling further installations.”It’s taken a lot of effort to get everybody’s attention,” Federal Hill resident Steven Topping said. “We’re really glad that we now have the city’s attention.”Residents said the proposed bill is a small win in a larger battle.”I’m always getting cold chills and worried about the big picture, because I think our city deserves to win this. Baltimore is better than this,” Federal Hill resident Sandy Seward said.BGE sent a statement to 11 News, saying: “The proposed legislation is problematic for several reasons, most notably that it would create an onerous process for BGE customers to obtain permission from Baltimore City for external installation of a natural gas service regulator.”BGE maintains that its decision to require external regulator placement was the right decision, made after careful deliberation considering many relevant factors, and made 100% for safety reasons. If passed and signed into law, the bill introduced today would make safer service the exception, not the rule, and restrict customers’ ability to choose the safer choice.”As BGE has said previously, the Maryland Public Service Commission is the proper authority to consider and decide matters involving the provision of gas service by public service companies such as BGE, including the type and placement of gas equipment necessary to provide such service.”We commend the commission for initiating last week’s proceeding and reiterate that it is vitally important for the commission to assert its jurisdiction over this matter, make a swift decision, and give clear directives to BGE on how to proceed with natural gas service regulator installations.”Safety is BGE’s No. 1 priority in everything we do. Intervention and uncertainty on the gas service regulators issue has slowed the important work of replacing vintage materials and an outmoded low-pressure system with safer, more modern, and more environmentally sound materials. This status quo is untenable and jeopardizes the public interest and the continued safety and reliability of BGE’s gas system. BGE looks forward to a forthcoming decision from the commission on this important matter.”The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation will also hold a hearing on the issue Tuesday afternoon.
Baltimore homeowners could soon have more say in what gas equipment is installed on their property.
Baltimore City’s Public Service Commission held a hearing last week that came and went without a decision on the controversial exterior gas regulators Baltimore Gas and Electric intended to install on homes in the city.
City council members are getting impatient.
| RELATED: ‘Something has gone awry’: PSC holds hearing on gas regulators
“We’ve been waiting for the PSC to take action on it. They have failed to take action on it repeatedly,” Councilmember Eric Costello said. “If the PSC is not going to take action, the city council is.”
A bill introduced Monday evening would require BGE to obtain the property owner’s consent before a permit to install regulators could be issued.
| RELATED: Bill would ban external gas regulators across Baltimore
Homeowners from across Baltimore have been taking a stand against the new external gas regulators, leading to a temporary restraining order, stalling further installations.
“It’s taken a lot of effort to get everybody’s attention,” Federal Hill resident Steven Topping said. “We’re really glad that we now have the city’s attention.”
Residents said the proposed bill is a small win in a larger battle.
“I’m always getting cold chills and worried about the big picture, because I think our city deserves to win this. Baltimore is better than this,” Federal Hill resident Sandy Seward said.
BGE sent a statement to 11 News, saying: “The proposed legislation is problematic for several reasons, most notably that it would create an onerous process for BGE customers to obtain permission from Baltimore City for external installation of a natural gas service regulator.
“BGE maintains that its decision to require external regulator placement was the right decision, made after careful deliberation considering many relevant factors, and made 100% for safety reasons. If passed and signed into law, the bill introduced today would make safer service the exception, not the rule, and restrict customers’ ability to choose the safer choice.
“As BGE has said previously, the Maryland Public Service Commission is the proper authority to consider and decide matters involving the provision of gas service by public service companies such as BGE, including the type and placement of gas equipment necessary to provide such service.
“We commend the commission for initiating last week’s proceeding and reiterate that it is vitally important for the commission to assert its jurisdiction over this matter, make a swift decision, and give clear directives to BGE on how to proceed with natural gas service regulator installations.
“Safety is BGE’s No. 1 priority in everything we do. Intervention and uncertainty on the gas service regulators issue has slowed the important work of replacing vintage materials and an outmoded low-pressure system with safer, more modern, and more environmentally sound materials. This status quo is untenable and jeopardizes the public interest and the continued safety and reliability of BGE’s gas system. BGE looks forward to a forthcoming decision from the commission on this important matter.”
The Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation will also hold a hearing on the issue Tuesday afternoon.
