* 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 06-0171 R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Mitchell, Harris, Young, Spector, Clarke, Holton, Welch
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Public Service Commission - Appeal of Electric Rate Increase Decision
FOR the purpose of requesting the City Solicitor to appeal the electric rate increase deferral plan approved in a closed door session by the Public Service Commission that will allow a 72% increase in electric rates to be phased in over an 18 month period.
Body
Recitals
In a private, closed-door meeting convened after a contentious public hearing on Friday, April 28, 2006 the Public Service Commission approved, by a vote of 4 to 1, an unprecedented 72% increase in electric rate "deferral plan" that would spread the payments over an 18 month period and disallow a 5% interest charge.
The Public Service Commission ratification of the exorbitant increase imposed by the Florida-based parent company of the Constellation Energy Group and BGE, came despite long-ranging attempts of state elected officials to ameliorate the impact the electric rate increase on ratepayers.
Spreading the increase over an 18 month period and disallowing the 5% interest rate - that amounts to a cumulative reduction of a paltry $20 on the medium amount owed by rate payers who opt for the deferral plan - will do little to relieve the fiscal burden on the budgets of the average customer and break the budgets of the poor and those elderly and disabled on a fixed income.
The Public Service Commission is appointed to serve the public of the State of Maryland and as such ha...
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