For Immediate Release:Â
April 26, 2007
For Further Information: 410-367-393; Jill.Carter@house.state.md.us
STATE DELEGATE JILL P. CARTER CALLS FOR EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION TO PREVENT ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE
Decries Massive Rate Hike and Criticizes Constellation-BGE for Putting Profits Before People
Baltimore, MD: As a 50% rate increase for electricity costs looms, State Delegate Jill P. Carter, has written Governor O’Malley, Senate President Mike Miller and Speaker of the House Michael Busch urging a special session to prevent the increase.
“Constellation-BGE is putting profits before the people. The legislature must step in and institute rate caps, re-regulation and move toward transforming Constellation-BGE to a public utility,†said Carter. “When Martin O’Malley ran for governor he decried the increase in electricity costs. I agreed with him that the massive rate increase was unacceptable. Sadly, we did not resolve this issue in the legislative session now there is no alternative but a special session to prevent this unfair rate increase that will be a hardship for many Maryland residents.â€
Delegate Carter, who is running for mayor of Baltimore, noted that Constellation is making record profits. In fact, today, the company reported that its first-quarter profit increased 72 percent to $195.7 million. It also reported earnings of $1.03 per share, up from the 61 cents per share earned in the first quarter of 2006. “With profits like those, there seems to be no need for a rate hike,” said Carter.
“In order to ensure a fair price for Maryland residents, reduce energy consumption and move from dirty coal and risky nuclear energy to clean, sustainable energy sources we need a utility that acts in the public interest, not with profit as the primary goal,†said Carter. “I was disappointed when John Collins, vice president of Constellation recently told the Public Service Commission that profits were their primary goal. We need a utility that puts people before profits.â€
Carter pointed to the need for increased efficiency and decreased consumption as two goals the state must achieve that are inconsistent with the profit-motive of Constellation-BGE. “Reducing consumption means lower electricity rates, reduced carbon emissions and cleaner air, but it also means reduced profits. The conflict between profits and the public interest is becoming evident†Carter said.
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Does Jill reallly think the Governor or the legislature is going to do anything about this BGE rate hike? Doubtful. They all got re-elected by doing nothing, so now, there is no incentive. I just think it is a losing battle. BGE will do whatever they want and O’Malley, Miller, Busch, will let them because they are all corrupt and in bed together. Why else would they create this situation in 1999, and in 2007, they’ve still done nothing to rectify it and make it better for people?
Jill, way to stand on the issues. You have been a great advocate and I am glad to see that tough issues don’t scare you. Keep it Up!!
Jill, The 50 copies, “Slavery still exist, in the Case of consumers of electricity,” should have been handed out. Let the people ,’Run ,” with that idea of ,United We Stand,” Incourage the 1,ooo,ooo consumers to organize into a,”Consolation Energy,” group. There voices must be heard. Mayo Shadick doesn’t like contriversy. His handling of Mike Miller and the Gen. Assembly was like taking candy from a baby. A massive ,” Public organized show of Solidarity,” would devastate Ceg. You can’t allow this enormous rate increase to go away. We can’t allow ourselves to be the ,’Silent Majority,” Now is your chance to step up to the plate. Otherwise you will be just be a ,”Run of the mill politician, looking out for yourself,” GAK
I support your efforts. Create a highly regulated public utility. Declare eminent domain over Brandon Shores, Chalk Point, and Dickerson power plants for violation of the Clean Air Act and Maryland Healthy Air Act and take back Calvert Cliffs on the basis of stranded costs. Or at least sue them for the aforementioned reasons. Borrow the rest and re-regulate the electric power industry in Maryland.
[...] Del. Jill P. Carter called for a special session to address the rate increases, but Maryland’s Governor, Martin O’Malley wasn’t having it. That’s odd. He seemed all to ready to address the rate increases when he was campaigning to become the Governor. [...]