Accusing Baltimore City Solicitor Ralph Tyler of “professional misconduct,” Public Service Commission Chairman Kenneth D. Schisler refused to hear complaints during the weekly commission?s meeting hearing over Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. rate increases that are affecting city customers now.
Tyler, who said he gave the commission “written notice” of his intention to appear Wednesday, complained that budget billing customers were already seeing rate increases in their bills.
“We are here to ask the commission to suspend the imposition of higher rates,” Tyler said.
But Schisler cut Tyler off, warning the city?s top lawyer that budget billing was not on the official agenda, and that discussing the issue at the hearing was unethical. “You are close to violating the rules of professional conduct,” Schisler said.
Tyler countered, “I am speaking at a public meeting, sir.”
The heated exchange marked another skirmish in the political battle over the impending 72 percent increase in BGE rates. The recent session in Annapolis failed to produce results, and anxiety and blame over the rate increase has fallen on the Democratic controlled Maryland General Assembly, according to a recent Gonzales poll.
Mayor Martin O?Malley has focused much of his wrath on Gov. Robert Erhlich?s appointments to the Public Service Commission, charging in an interview with The Examiner that the governor has “lobotomized” the panel.
Tyler said after Wednesday?s meeting that budget billing customers should be able to chose whether they want to pay higher rates now.
“It should an opt-in rather than an opt-out program,” he said, referring to the fact that BGE?s budget billing customers rates have automatically been adjusted to reflect the upcoming rate increase.
He also said the Public Service Commission has not made the necessary effort to let the public know they can “opt out” of higher rates if they want.
“As you can see, it is buried on the second page of the Web site,” Tyler said, brandishing a printout of the PSC?s Web site.
Public Service Commission spokeswoman Christine Nizer said Tyler was cut off because it was not fair for him to speak on the issue without the presence of other petitioners.
“There are 24 other groups that have filed on budget billing. Unless all petitioners are present, the issue cannot be discussed,” she said.
