* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Young, Councilmember Conaway
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Investigative Hearing - Transformer Failure Issues and the Need for a Transmitter Infrastructure Upgrade
FOR the purpose of requesting BGE to send representatives of the company to brief the Council regarding the lack of a current transformer inspection plan in Baltimore City, the recent U.S. Department of Energy study that identifies Maryland as an area with an aging transmitter infrastructure that will be requiring updating in the near future and how BGE plans on updating this infrastructure to meet the future energy demands of the citizens of Baltimore City.
Body
Recitals
According to recent reports by the U.S. Department of Energy, Maryland's electricity delivery network is in need of immediate attention. The report states that the Mid-Atlantic region is an area with major congestion problems that will only get worse as time goes on. More specific to the Baltimore area, the report states that without transmission upgrades, critically important loads in the area will face numerous violations of reliability criteria over the next 15 years.
With the rising costs of already high prices of energy, we need to take action to repair these transformers and address transmitter and infrastructure issues now. Because of the system deficiencies, power outages throughout the City have become a regular occurrence. Currently there is no plan set in place for the regular inspection of transformers in Baltimore City. Many of these power outage issues are due to the fact that these aging energy distribution points are failing or are simply not able to relay the amounts of energy that is being expected from them. If a proper inspection plan was put in place, BGE would be able to find trouble spots much more frequently and could avoid many of the power outage issues citywide.
BGE has a responsibility to ensure that all customers receive electricity in the most efficient way possible. Unfortunately, without proper maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, this simply is not possible. With power outages being a constant burden on the citizens of Baltimore, BGE should create solutions rather than simply pushing the problems to the side. Something needs to be done to combat these consistent power outage issues and to aid the aging and decaying power infrastructures that are currently in use.
If we do not begin to implement changes now, we will all suffer in the future. The process of fixing power problems is a long and arduous one, and the sooner we begin the sooner changes can be made that will truly have an impact on not only the way we approach energy use now, but also on the way in which we look to the future transport of energy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Body requests BGE to send representatives of the company to brief the Council regarding the lack of a current transformer inspection plan in Baltimore City, the recent U.S. Department of Energy study that identifies Maryland as an area with an aging transmitter infrastructure that will be requiring updating in the near future, and how BGE plans on updating this infrastructure to meet the future energy demands of the citizens of Baltimore City.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, Senior Government Relations Representative for BGE, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.
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