Baltimore leaders, advocates protest BGE $156M rate request as PSC hearings begin

Baltimore officials, labor leaders and energy advocates gathered Tuesday outside Baltimore Gas and Electric’s headquarters to oppose the utility’s request to raise rates by $156 million, a proposal now before the Maryland Public Service Commission that could add an average of $8 to monthly electric bills for customers next year.

What’s at stake

The Public Service Commission (PSC) will hold hearings over the coming months to examine testimony from BGE, the Office of People’s Counsel (the independent state agency that represents utility customers) and other stakeholders. The agency must decide how much of BGE’s request to approve.

In materials announcing the request, BGE framed the increase as the minimum investment needed to maintain a “safe and reliable” electric system. Opponents counter that the utility’s financial performance and recent profit levels should limit or block any customer rate hikes.

"At the end of the month, $8 might make or break somebody who is struggling to make ends meet," said Ricarra Jones of the Service Employees International Union. "So, before asking anybody to pay even one more dollar, the PSC should make BGE prove that every single dollar it's already collecting is being spent efficiently."

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen urged residents and the commission to push back against what he characterized as excessive corporate profitability. He highlighted BGE’s recent earnings, saying the company has made "over a billion dollars" in the last two years while still seeking more revenue from customers.

Local pressure and precedent

The rally continues a pattern of public resistance that has at times influenced PSC decisions. Cohen pointed to a prior campaign in which he delivered 7,000 petitions to the PSC over a reconciliation request; the commission ultimately cut that request roughly in half. He also noted that Peco, another Exelon-owned utility, withdrew a rate request in Pennsylvania after public backlash.

Advocates at Tuesday’s event stressed the disproportionate impact of even modest bill increases on low- and moderate-income households, arguing regulators should scrutinize utility spending and corporate profits before approving additional costs to consumers.

• Requested increase: $156 million
• Projected average bill impact: $8 per month for electric customers
• Recent reported profits: Over $1 billion for BGE in the last two years (as cited by Council President Zeke Cohen)

Regulatory process and timeline

The PSC process will include testimony from BGE, the Office of People’s Counsel and other intervenors, with public hearings and technical sessions scheduled in coming weeks and months. The commission evaluates the utility’s operating costs, capital investments, and revenue requirements before setting final rates.

Utility rate cases typically involve detailed audits of company finances and investments. The Office of People’s Counsel serves as an independent watchdog with the legal authority to challenge requests and advocate for customer protections during the PSC’s review.

Implications for Baltimore residents

Small monthly increases can compound for households already balancing rent, food and other essentials. City officials framed the issue as a matter of fairness and oversight: if utilities are generating high profits, they argued, regulators should resist passing additional costs to ratepayers without evidence of necessary and prudent spending.

As the PSC moves forward with its review, organizers signaled plans to maintain public pressure through testimony and rallies. The commission’s final decision will determine whether Baltimore households will see the additional charges reflected on their bills next year.