BGE, Baltimore clash over conduit fee increase ahead of Wednesday vote

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — BGE urged Baltimore officials Tuesday to reject a proposed conduit fee increase ahead of this week’s vote, while city leaders accused the utility of putting shareholder profits ahead of ratepayers.

In a three-page letter to the Baltimore City Board of Estimates, BGE argued the city has failed to show why the fee to to use Baltimore’s underground conduit system should increase when, the utility says, the current agreement is already producing better infrastructure results at a lower cost.

“Customers are being asked to absorb a substantial fee increase without a clearly defined long-term infrastructure plan, detailed staffing strategy, identified capital investment program, or supporting engineering assessment demonstrating how the additional revenue will improve system performance and reliability,” the letter states.

The Board of Estimates is scheduled to vote Wednesday morning on Mayor Brandon Scott’s proposal to raise the conduit franchise fee from $2.20 to $4.05 per linear foot beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with future increases tied to inflation.

Read the full story on The Baltimore Sun.