Baltimore city council urges PSC to reject $156 million BGE rate hike

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — City leaders and community members are rallying against a proposed electricity rate hike that could cost Baltimore families more each year.

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen joined councilmembers, advocates and business owners at City Hall in a push to urge the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject Baltimore Gas and Electric’s proposal for a $156 million increase in electricity rates. The plan would raise the average customer’s bill by about $100 annually. Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel recommended denying the request and instead reducing rates by nearly $44 million.

Cohen spoke about the difficult choices residents face. “Residents are forced to choose between groceries, rent, medication, childcare and electricity,” said Cohen. He added that local businesses are struggling too. “Local businesses are going under because they can’t afford their BGE bill,” Cohen said.

The group pointed out that while customers struggle, BGE has reported over $1 billion in profits in the past two years. Cohen questioned why high profits coexist with residents falling into poverty. “There is something fundamentally wrong when a utility can generate that kind of profit, while the people who pay their bills are falling into poverty,” Cohen said.

City Comptroller Bill Henry, Councilmembers Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer, Antonio “Tony” Glover, Zac Blanchard, Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, Jermaine Jones and Mark Parker stood with Cohen, along with Silver Queen Café co-owner Nicole Evanshaw and other community advocates.

Cohen compared BGE to a similar utility, PECO in Pennsylvania, which recently withdrew its request for a rate increase without disrupting reliable service. “If you can do it in Pennsylvania, why can’t you do it here in Baltimore?” Cohen said.

Council leaders are introducing a resolution urging the PSC to deny the rate increase and to lower BGE’s allowed return on equity from 9.5 percent to 7.3 percent. Cohen said this move could save customers more than $110 per year.

Residents were encouraged to add their voices. Cohen urged, “If you’re tired of continuing to see the bills go up, please sign our petition at High Energy Bills maryland.org.” He reminded the public that the PSC will hold another public hearing on Nov. 18 and residents can register to speak until Nov. 16.

Cohen closed with a message about accountability. “BGE is accountable to their shareholders, the PSC and every elected official standing here today is accountable to the people,” said Cohen. “They represent the money. We represent the many. We will not allow our residents to be crushed by this monopoly.”