Baltimore’s leaders are hauling Baltimore Gas & Electric into the hot seat this Wednesday, as the City Council convenes a public hearing to find out why gas bills suddenly shot up across the city this winter. Residents and small-business owners have flooded council offices with complaints about unexpectedly high charges, sometimes several hundred dollars above what they normally pay. The hearing will bring BGE executives, consumer advocates and council staff into the same room to dig into billing, infrastructure spending and any possible errors that may have hit customers in the wallet.
As reported by
, WJZ-TV’s Stephanie Douglas previewed the meeting and said the Legislative Investigations Committee will “look at what’s causing rising gas bills in Baltimore.” Council members say they plan to press the utility for detailed billing data and full cooperation once the questioning begins.
Why The Bills Jumped: Watchdogs Point To Pipeline Spending
The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel has zeroed in on rising delivery charges – the part of the bill that pays for pipelines and system upgrades – as a major driver of the recent increases. OPC’s analysis found that BGE’s gas delivery rates have more than tripled since 2010 and says accelerated capital spending under programs like STRIDE has pushed distribution charges higher, according to the Office of People’s Counsel. The watchdog has urged regulators to demand more cost-effective planning and greater transparency so customers are not stuck paying for projects that do not clearly improve safety.
City Leaders Turn Up The Heat
Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen and Legislative Investigations Committee chair Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer are leading the charge, arguing that the city has a responsibility to shield residents from unaffordable utility costs. “We stand with our people over their profits,” Cohen said in remarks highlighted by local coverage, per FOX Baltimore. Schleifer’s committee is preparing to examine whether BGE’s project priorities and the state regulator’s multi-year ratemaking approach have shifted too much of the cost burden onto customers.
BGE Response And Short-Term Relief
BGE says a mix of colder weather, higher commodity costs and investments to modernize the system explains part of the increase, and the company has told officials it is working to help customers manage what shows up on their monthly statements. The utility also rolled out short-term measures last winter – including pausing disconnections and waiving late fees for certain customers – which it described as relief steps while it investigates “unanticipated high bills,” per CBS Baltimore. BGE has told local outlets it welcomes the opportunity to answer questions at the hearing and to continue discussions with city leaders…