BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF) — Baltimore is proposing a new fee for companies that use the city’s underground conduit system, a move city leaders say is needed to keep up with rising costs and growing repair demands after underground fires in 2024 and 2025.
Mayor Brandon Scott proposed a new conduit franchise fee for Baltimore Gas & Electric and other entities that use the underground conduit system. The fee would begin Jan. 1, 2027, apply to all users and be set at $4.05 per linear foot, with future adjustments for inflation.
“Our conduit system is one of the most important components of our City’s infrastructure, and it is imperative we continue prioritizing its maintenance and improvement,” Scott said. “The agreement we negotiated back in 2023 has allowed us to make significant progress in upgrading and modernizing the system through significant capital improvement. However, as the system faces higher construction costs and ever-changing needs, the City must constantly evolve our approach to keep pace with our needs in 2026 and in the years to come. This new proposal takes into account those needs, builds on the progress we’ve made since 2023, and outlines a path for cooperation between all of our partners who utilize the conduit system.”…