Article Responding To:
Baltimore residents rally against BGE rate hikes, demanding public utility options
By Caroline Foreback
Updated on: December 21, 2025 / 8:51 AM EST / CBS Baltimore
On Saturday, Baltimore residents, energy justice organizers, and elected officials rallied at City Hall to protest utility rate hikes, utility debt, and shutoffs by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
Yet, protesters weren’t just opposing BGE; they were also campaigning for a publicly controlled utility that they say would create some competition and help lower rates.
“The people of Baltimore City and the county as well are fed up with the rate hikes and the shut-offs and the utility debt…and the monopoly that BGE has over the city is how they’re able to exploit us in that way,” said Angela Clark of the Sunrise Movement Baltimore.
Over the past year, Baltimore-area residents and business owners have raised concerns about their skyrocketing BGE bills. Earlier this week, Diedre Gross of Parkville showed WJZ her shut-off notice…
“Sometimes it’s more than rent,” Diedre Gross, a Parkville resident, reported. “That’s not good.”
According to the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, gas delivery rates included in your BGE bill have increased by 246% since 2010, and electric delivery rates have increased by 92%.
A spokesperson for BGE said in a statement to WJZ, rising energy costs are due to factors beyond BGE’s control, and the company is focused on helping customers manage costs through assistance programs, energy efficiency options, and payment plans.
“We don’t have to play this game…”
On Saturday, Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway told protestors it doesn’t have to be this way.
“We don’t have to play this game, we don’t have to be victims to the system…there’s another option, there’s a democratic option, an American option, and it’s called public power,” Conway said.
He and energy justice advocates say the push for public power in Baltimore begins with state lawmakers in Annapolis.
“This is our first event, really for the public power campaign. We’re hoping to get more momentum going for the legislative session going into January and letting BGE know that we’re out here and we’re coming for them,” Clark added.
In a statement, a spokesperson for BGE stated they would continue working with customers, community partners, and regulators to ensure progress on energy issues keeps affordability front and center.
Response:
Since January of 2023 energy generation in Maryland under the Moore Administration, has gone in a direction of moving towards Renewables “Wind and Solar” and away from “Traditional Energy” .
With signing the “the power act” in 2023 to make Maryland the ” Wind Capital” of the Country, to heavy regulations on Traditional Energy MD 2024 SB 1 a regulation bill that was accused:
” 34-page bill will handcuff retail energy suppliers so severely that the state’s deregulated marketplace will effectively disappear.”
To investing in an Offshore Wind Project between Worcester County / Ocean City Md and Sussex County / Bethany Beach DE. To in 2025 aggressive zoning legislation to “transform” large parts of the States Farmland to “Solar Farms”….
The results of all of this? Energy rates up around the State by a 1000 percent, since January of 2023.
Governor Moore and his administration have taken some “minimal” actions” on energy relief with “token rebates” and an Executive Order he just signed, that sounded more like “lip service” than anything substantial…
However the Moore Administration needs to address the main reason all of this has happened, with the “War on Traditional Energy” which needs to end. A war that has been so financially harmful to the States Businesses and Working Families.
Renewables such as Wind and Solar can help support Traditional Energy, but with things like AI and Data Centers on the horizon, Wind and Solar alone is not going to get it done. If Marylands energy crisis isn’t addressed this session in Annapolis, the State could soon be facing “Rolling Blackouts” and still have record high energy rates….
I’ve been posting about energy rates in maryland for 2 years. Where the hell are our local rino legislators?
To damn busy getting their grift on!
Crickets when voting Democrat. Sadly I live in this state too and can’t believe the ignorance of voters. Baltimore residents are getting exactly what they voted for.
Good luck.
And Delmarva power is asking for rate hikes ?????
Its crazy how expensive its gotten. Delmarva power has lost their mind. Moore shutting down these power plants is a dumb move. Were screwed.