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Baltimore Gas & Electric must rein in spending on gas pipelines to lower high utility bills, AG says

Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun on

Published in News & Features

BALTIMORE — Consumer and environmental advocates are backing a state proposal that would force Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. to rein in the replacement of gas delivery pipelines, arguing that unnecessary utility investments have sent bills skyrocketing without improving safety.

Advocates gathered Monday at Baltimore City Hall with state and city elected officials to support a plan to modify a 2013 state law that allows gas utilities to recover the costs of spending on gas infrastructure replacement projects.

“We’re here today to call on the Maryland legislature to provide utility customers relief and to end wasteful gas utility spending,” by passing the Ratepayer Protection Act, introduced Monday, said Emily Scarr, of Maryland Public Interest Research Group. “BGE’s gas delivery rates have escalated to crisis levels.”

Gas delivery rates, one portion of customers’ utility bills, are tied to BGE spending, which increases the utility’s profits and customers costs, representatives of Maryland PIRG and other advocates say.

The group says wasteful spending has sent gas delivery rates up about 246% since 2010, while BGE profits tripled from $147 million in 2010 to $485 million in 2023.

BGE has spent $1.4 billion on its gas pipeline replacement program in the last decade, enabled by the so-called STRIDE law, the group said.

 

BGE said in an email Tuesday that both state and federal policy directs utilities to not only maintain, but improve and upgrade aging natural gas infrastructure to enhance public safety and reduce environmental risks.

“BGE customers are served by the oldest natural gas pipeline system in the country, and it is in need of upgrading,” a BGE spokesman said. “Legacy natural gas pipeline infrastructure is more prone to leaks, posing safety and environmental risks. Replacing outmoded pipes with modern materials aligns with public policy and is the right thing to do for our customers and the environment.”

The utility said most reasons for higher energy costs “have nothing to do with BGE” and that blaming the utility’s gas system maintenance ignores the impact of higher usage and market forces caused by insufficient in-state power generation.

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©2025 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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