(WBFF) — As Marylanders continue to face the snowy and blustery conditions, the colder weather could bring a higher energy bill for many.
On top of the snow storm that just blew through, throughout the next week, dangerously cold weather conditions are predicted. Colder weather outside leads to higher energy usage, especially when it comes to keeping your home warm. Using more energy will reflect a higher cost on your energy bill. Over the weekend, a BGE spokesperson said the gas system saw major demand, and it is expected to continue throughout this week.
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“If last month’s bill was $1,400 and we are on natural gas and electricity there. So just just seeing what that potentially could look like, I it does bring a large concern,” said Rob Groves, pastor at Harvest Church of God in the Reisterstown area.
Baltimore resident Norma Schlein, who is 72, said she was worried about how much her next bill would be. She said as a widower on a fixed income, she might have to come out of retirement to help pay her bills.
“I just don’t know what I am going to do,” she said.
Breaking down the costs you could expect to see on your next energy bill, a spokesperson from BGE said for electricity, your bill will go up roughly $100 for every 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) used. A figure that includes BGE’s current distribution rate, electric supply costs, and the Empower Maryland charge, with the electric supply making up the bulk of that cost.
Gas customers will see an increase of about $80 for every 50 therms used, which also includes BGE’s current distribution rate, electric supply and Empower Maryland charge. The gas delivery fees and supply charges make up the majority of this cost.
PJM, the regional grid operator, said “peak demand has the potential to exceed 130,000 MW for seven straight days, a winter streak that PJM has never experienced. Depending on temperatures, PJM could set a new all-time winter peak load on Tuesday, Jan. 27.”
Additionally, due to a plan that was approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission allowing BGE to recover about $77 million in spending, residents can expect to see an additional increase. Officials said the order will result in a monthly bill impact of 72 cents for the average residential electric customer, and $1.95 for the average residential gas customer, beginning in February 2026 and extending through the end of 2027.
Groves said community members have reached out for help, hoping to get assistance from the church with their BGE bills.
“Some of the stories that I’ve heard are like single parents who are having a tough time choosing between paying their mortgage or feeding their children or keeping the lights on,” Groves said. “It breaks my heart as pastor. You never want to see people get to the point where they have to choose those sort of things there. I wish there was more that we could do.”
For the past year, other residents have voiced frustration, hard decisions they are forced to make, and in some cases, desperation about rising energy bills. A major contributor to the rising costs are the supply costs, set through a PJM process. Additionally, over the past year, utility rate increases and BGE’s spending on infrastructure have drawn sharp criticism. While BGE defended its spending, saying the infrastructure projects are necessary to the safety and reliability of the gas system, others argued the utility is overspending.
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