BGE lambastes state lawmakers (MD)

The Washington Times ^ | 4-5-06 | S.A. Miller

[JZelle]

ANNAPOLIS -- Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. (BGE) executives say state lawmakers are "overplaying their hand" by trying to negotiate lower electric bills with threats to block the company's multibillion-dollar merger with a Florida utility. "They understate the value of our proposal and overstate the value of their leverage," said Robert L. Gould, communications director for Constellation Energy Group Inc., the parent company of BGE. "The legislature needs to be more realistic." Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, and leaders of the Democrat-controlled General Assembly have rejected the power company's offer to phase in a 72 percent increase in electricity rates over two years.

[JZelle]

Typical Maryland

[mallardx]

Maryland made BG&E divest (sell off) it's generating plants several years ago, so now they have to buy all their power instead of generating most of it. And they wonder why rates are skyrocketing? Is there anyone here besides me that is stumped why leftists are given any power in this country? It is unreal.

[rllngrk33]

Anybody in the peoples republik of md who gets their electricity off the grid is screwed. I just hope we have a relatively mild summer this year cause that's the only relief we're going to get.

The RATs put this in place and are now going to blame Ehrlich for it.

[NotSoFreeStater]

O'Malley is already trying to blame Ehrlich and conveniently forgets that this choice for AG voted for the proposal back in 1999.

[CGTRWK]

"It's the utility company versus the people. Ultimately the people will prevail," Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., Prince George's Democrat, told reporters yesterday.

And when the people prevail, vanquishing this evil company, who exactly is it that is going to keep the lights on?

Frankly, a political system that puts this level of ignorance in a position of power is fundamentally flawed.