Gov. Robert Ehrlichon Thursday blasted Baltimore Circuit Judge Albert Matricciani?s recent ruling to allow for judicial review of the public Service Commission?s approval of the BGE rate hike.
Saying “flawed electricity deregulation” is truly to blame for rising energy costs, Ehrlich called the city?s victory a defeat for consumers.
“Not only does Baltimore City?s lawsuit lack any credible recommendations to keep electricity affordable, it could eliminate the only credible plan available to customers,” Ehrlich said.
In a written statement released Thursday, Ehrlich also said his administration had offered the only credible plan, and called the city?s legal challenge a “politically tinged attempt to mislead, delay and confuse.”
The governor?s statement came hours after Baltimore City won the initial round of its case against the Public Service Commission on Wednesday, with Matricciani granting the city?s request for “judicial review” of the PSC?s decision to approve the 72 percent increase.
In his decision, Matricciani said that July 1, the day the rate hike goes into effect, “looms very large” and that the court must “assume jurisdiction” over the case to give the city time for “meaningful” judicial review.
Mayor Martin O?Malley said he was gratified by the court decision.
“This ruling is crucial because it effects so many resident in Baltimore who live on fixed incomes who should not have to chose between buying groceries or turning on their air conditioning when it?s 90 degrees,” the mayor said.
O?Malley also congratulated City Solicitor Ralph Tyler for his arguments on behalf of the city.
“He had [a] strong argument that was made very well,” said Terry Harris, an attorney for Maryland Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocate that is also suing the PSC over the rate increase.
“He?s clearly one of Maryland?s best lawyers byreputation. After witnessing the hearing, it stands up.”
Tyler, who worked for the Attorney General?s Office for 14 years as both chief of litigation and deputy attorney general, joined the city as chief solicitor in 2004.
