Baltimore Leaders Urge PSC to Halt BGE Rate Hikes

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen and other local leaders are ramping up opposition to Baltimore Gas & Electric's (BGE) multi-year rate hikes and infrastructure spending, arguing they drive up customer bills and enrich shareholders. They submitted over 7,000 resident postcards demanding rate relief and urged the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to use new regulatory powers from the Next Generation Energy Act to scrutinize and potentially halt multi-year rate plans. The leaders are also calling for an immediate pause to BGE's 'Operation Pipeline' program, citing a report forecasting persistently high bills if capital investments proceed. BGE defends the multi-year plans as necessary for system upgrades and attributes higher costs to natural gas prices and mandated efficiency spending. Cohen insists that discussions must be contingent on a concrete rate relief plan, despite BGE’s offer for dialogue. The PSC is currently reviewing its multi-year ratemaking procedures in response to the new law and public concerns.