The 50 percent electricity rate hike scheduled to start June 1 for Baltimore Gas and Electric customers does not come out of the blue. Neither did last summer?s rate hike, which followed seven years of rates frozen6.5 percent below 1993 levels.
Leaving aside the faulty logic leading to legislation capping electricity rates, you would think the state of Maryland would have had ample time to prepare for how to help those most affected by the steep price rise ? the poor.
But millions of dollars aimed at helping low-income families pay their fuel bills never make it to them.
Don Dasher, director of community relations and outreach for BGE, told The Examiner recently, “Every year several million dollars never reach families in need despite our outreach efforts in the community.”
Reasons for unused dollars include agency hours that conflict with working families? schedules and bureaucratic procedures, Dasher said.
That says activists protesting Constellation for its rates last week should turn their ire toward the legislators who passed the 1999 “deregulation” bill leading to this mess and who have ignored finding ways to buffer the rise for Maryland?s neediest citizens.
And Maryland Del. Jill Carter, a Democrat running for Baltimore city mayor, who helped to lead last week?s protest, would better use her time working with activists to maximize the amount of dollars flowing to aid the needy and ensuring those who need it have access to it.
A good start would be for Carter to work with agencies distributing state, federal and private fuel assistance aid are open when those who need it can come.
For hourly workers with children ? which describe many low-income residents ? Saturday and/or evening schedules would make it much easier for agencies to reach those in need. Coming during the day means missing work ? and pay.
Or why not take the example from roving health care vans and have fuel-assistance agencies set up mobile shops for a couple of hours each evening in needy neighborhoods throughout the region?
Berating BGE may score political points. But it won?t help those that need assistance to keep the lights on and to find refuge from scorching temperatures this summer.
