City Solicitor Ralph Tyler said on Monday that he would file a motion this week in circuit court to seek an injunction against the Public Service Commission?s approval of BGE?s rate increase.
Tyler, who made the announcement at a luncheon held by Mayor Martin O?Malley, said later that the filing was in response to what he called an unfair hearing process that lead to the approval of BGE?s rate stabilization plan.
“The Public Service Commission approved the rate hike without adequate public hearings and without considering the costs savings from the merger,” Tyler said. Tyler also said the PSC “changed the rules midstream.”
“They allowed testimony and cross-examination, until it was our turn,” Tyler said.
Tyler later joined City Council members in front of City Hall to speak on behalf of a resolution in support the motion, introduced by Council Member Keiffer Jackson Mitchell, D-District 11. Council Members Kenneth Harris, D-District 4; Mary Pat Clarke, D-District 14; James Kraft, D-District 1; and Edward Reisinger, D-District 10, joined in an impromptu press conference.
“This resolution is symbolic of the City Council?s support of both the mayor and City Solicitor Ralph Tyler to fight the rate increase,” Mitchell said.
The flurry of activity came as the consequences of the PSC?s approval of BGE?s rate stabilization started to sink in. State Del. Kurt Anderson exhorted the assembled council members and O?Malley with an impassioned speech to fight the rate increase.
“We need to get angry,” Anderson told O?Malley and the council members at Monday?s luncheon. “We cannot let this happen,” he added, using expletives to make his point.
The mayor urged council members to contact their counterparts in Baltimore County to garner support for the city?s efforts.
Still, the only public official with a plan of action was Tyler, whose promise that the city would soon be filing a motion seemed to at least offer a constructive rallying pointfor frustrated politicians. Anderson admitted as much, speaking admiringly of Tyler?s appearance before the PSC last week and comparing him to trial attorney Billy Murphy.
