Escalating energy bills in Baltimore have sparked a showdown between city leaders and Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), with Council President Zeke Cohen leading the charge. WBAL-TV reported that Cohen, representing the frustrations of city residents, delivered over 7,200 postcards to BGE's doorstep yesterday. The collective message from the community was clear: put an end to the burdensome, multi-year rate hikes that have become a source of relentless financial strain.
Local officials are pushing back against what they see as unfair economic pressure from BGE's "Operation Pipeline," a program that Cohen accuses of being designed to boost the company's profits on the backs of ratepayers. While brandishing bags filled with postcard petitions, Cohen declared to the press, "This is what it looks like when thousands of Baltimoreans lift their voices up together to say enough is enough," CBS News Baltimore relayed. The demand from these leaders is for BGE to offer immediate and sustainable rate relief, and for the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to cancel the proposed 2026 rate increase.
The PSC, which approved BGE's multi-year rate hike plan in 2023, has found itself in the spotlight as it reevaluates the utility's rates. Acknowledging the breadth of community outrage, PSC Chair Frederick Hoover solemnly greeted Cohen when he presented the petitions. "We will certainly incorporate the comments and suggestions into the official record," Hoover stated, signaling that the regulatory body would heed the concerns aired by Baltimore residents, as reported by CBS News Baltimore.
Amid the ongoing debate, Maryland Delegate Elizabeth Embry underscored a legislative victory with the Next Generation Energy Act. This new bill compels utility companies to prioritize cost-effectiveness and safety in infrastructure upgrades. It also instructs the PSC to reject rate hikes that do not provide demonstrable customer benefits.
