Greater Baltimore Urban League

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🚨 BALTIMORE: How to legally fight BGE and hold utility monopolies accountable! 🚨 Under Maryland law, we can’t just "fire" BGE because they are a state-sanctioned monopoly. But there is a strict, legal blueprint we can use to push back against continuous rate hikes and force our elected officials to act. Here is exactly how we fight back using the legal system: 1️⃣ INTERVENE IN THE ACTIVE RATE CASE (Case No. 9888) BGE must get permission from the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) for every single hike. BGE is currently pushing for a massive $156.1M rate increase. By law, rates must be "just and reasonable" (MD Public Utilities Code § 4-102). Go to psc.state.md.us, look up Case 9888, and submit a formal public comment detailing how these hikes are pricing you out of your home. 2️⃣ AMPLIFY THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE’S COUNSEL (OPC) The OPC is the state-appointed legal team fighting for residential consumers. In the current case, the OPC has filed expert testimony demanding the PSC reject BGE’s hike and instead FORCE a $43.9M rate reduction. Show up to public PSC hearings and back the OPC's legal findings. 3️⃣ DEMAND STATE LEGISLATION TO BAN MULTI-YEAR PLANS BGE relies on "Multi-Year Rate Plans" that pre-approve hikes years in advance. Call Governor Wes Moore and your Maryland State Delegates. Demand an explicit legislative ban on pre-approved multi-year utility hikes, forcing BGE to undergo rigid, transparent audits every single year. 4️⃣ FORCE MUNICIPAL ADVOCACY BGE is trying to pass down massive infrastructure fees exclusively to city residents via special surcharges. Call Mayor Brandon Scott and your City Council members. Demand that the city's legal department formally sue or intervene at the PSC level to block these geographically discriminatory fees. We have the laws, but we need the noise. Don't let corporate monopolies and geographic algorithms run you out of your neighborhood. 🗳️ #Baltimore #BGE #HoldThemAccountable #FairRates #CommunityFirst #Vote #KeepBaltimoreHome #LocalGovernment #Maryland #MadisonPark #21217 #ConsumerRights #UtilityReform