Maryland electricity rates to skyrocket

The Washington Times ^ | 3-8-06 | Kara Rowland

[JZelle]

Under the delayed payment plan, BGE customers would pay less than the market rate for the first eight months. For the remaining months of the two-year plan, customers would have to pay extra charges to make up for the amount of their true bill. Customers would have to pay 5 percent in annual interest. Against its staff's recommendation, the Public Service Commission ordered that all BGE customers would be automatically enrolled in the deferred payment plan, though they can opt out and pay the full market price to avoid interest payments.

[JZelle]

I've yet to see the benefits of the deregulation of electricity.

[JZelle]

This is the first page of the article. Sorry about that!

http://www.washingtontimes.com/business/20060308-121849-8599r.htm

[conserv13]

I live in Baltimore, not looking forward to this. : (

[silverleaf]

Well that sucks, We've been walking around all winter wearing two sweaters in the house to keep the natural gas usage down. When the air conditioning season starts it looks like we'll be walking around the house in our (wet) skivvies to save electricity, Time to find some oil lamps for light and reading I guess.

[Bikers4Bush]

Or of natural gas.

[Larry Lucido]

Maybe we should deregulate it and see.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Turn off the tv and get a part time job or read a book.

Saves money.............

[OB1kNOb]

Just goes to prove it's not always best to jump out of the gate and implement a new idea, like Maryland did in 1999, when it comes along. It may sound great on the surface, but then time shows all it's pros and cons, warts and all.

[50sDad]

Cinergy, our local "provider" was bought out by Duke from down South. "Oh, don't worry, your rates won't go up" we were told. The first of a thousand layoffs has begun. (And we should be seeing the rate increase any time now.)

I though a "public utility" was supposed to be run non-profit for the public good?

[JZelle]

I work full time, I lift weights regularly, and read on the crapper.

[Ditto]

I though a "public utility" was supposed to be run non-profit for the public good?

A "public utility" is a private 'for profit' business that happens to be extensively regulated. They have stockholders and boards of directors like any other business. In exchange for accepting regulation by the state including setting the rates customers pay, they are guranteed a profit also established by regulation. The attraction for investors is the guranteed profit --- never as spectacular as other potential investments, but as long as the utility is "prudently operated" (i.e. the regulators agree that the utility is following the regulations) there will be no losses.

[TChris]

I've yet to see the benefits of the deregulation of electricity.

IMO, deregulation should only occur in markets where there is viable competition. When there is a monopoly or 800-pound gorilla situation, careful and meaningful regulation should remain.

[Young Werther]

"Change the Lightbulbs" should be the clarion call. I just purchased the new mini flourescent bulbs for my ceiling light fixtures, lamps and porch lights. 28 bulbs cost me about $85.00. I expect to save around $35/month so by June the bulbs will be paid for.

A church member is the town Traffic Engineer and he replaced the traffic light bulbs with LED lights. He did this in 2002 and the costs were paid for in 2003. Now the town's 44 intersections where the conversions were made save the town $100 per intersection per month!!!!

Change the Lightbulbs!!!

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I work full time, I lift weights regularly, and read on the crapper.

I'm retired, work out on a Total Gym daily and watch TV on the crapper.

My downfall is the computer and FR.

[Eska]

You laugh! Up here along the upper yukon we pay somewhere in the 40 cents/KWH. It was 11 cents back east. Last winter my winter elec bills went over 800 bucks and this was with oil fired baseboard heat that also heated my hot water.

So I installed a woodburner downstairs and a big amish pioneer maid wood cookstove upstairs. Stopped plugging in all the vehicles and just decided I was going to keep my KWH down around 500 a month. Now my bill is 200 bucks, house is always toasty warm with window open at minus 50, no more elec dryer, wife bakes on big old woodstove, food tastes better, and I'm losing weight cutting firewood. A few of the locals do have oil lamps. I guess that would be better than letting the kids turn on one light like that pizza commercial.

[rdcorso]

I just opened my electricity bill and my rate went from 6.48 cents per kwh to 10.80 cents per kwh.The rate went up a small amount last year but that was nothing compared to this latest increase.When I look at the cost of electricity,oil,gas,food and medical costs I have to disagree with the people who claim that inflation is almost non existent.