The number of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers who had their power turned off in the last year increased 75 percent, according to a new state report, and the amount they owed to the utility rose as well.
The average amount delinquent customers among BGE’s 1.1 million residential ratepayers owed to the utility increased 62 percent to $596, according to a study conducted by the state Public Service Commission comparing October 2006 through September 2007 to the same period in 2007 through 2008.
The average amount owed to BGE exceeded a statewide average for all utilities of $340 and nearly twice the average owed to the next-highest utility — $284 to Delmarva Power and Light.
The great difference between BGE’s numbers and those of other utilities may be due to its role as a provider of both natural gas and electricity, PSC staff said. Other utilities, such as Washington, D.C.-area electricity provider Pepco, only offer one service or the other.
BGE recorded more than 35,000 electricity turnoffs in the last year, up 75 percent from more than 20,000 in 2006-2007. BGE’s terminations accounted for most of the 16,995 additional terminations in Maryland last year, a 23 percent increase statewide over the previous year.
“When the economy tightens in a environment where energy prices have risen, it’s not surprising that people will have trouble paying bills,” PSC Chairman Douglas Nazarian. “The extent to which that is increasing is something that we’re going to continue to watch closely.”
BGE said it has increased efforts to reach out to struggling customers with energy assistance expos and programs such as the Fuel Fund of Maryland, which helps customers make payments.
“We certainly do recognize that a number of our customers are challenged to pay their bills,” said BGE spokeswoman Linda Foy. “We continue to reach out to our customer and ask them to reach out to us. Customers falling behind should not wait until they receive a turnoff notice to contact us.”
Ratepayers’ bills could have even been worse — winter 2008 was 4 percent warmer than usual, and this summer was also mild, according to the PSC’s report.
“A simple return to normal weather can be expected to place a severe strain on the ability of Maryland customers to meet their electric and gas needs,” the PSC wrote in its report.
How to help
To donate to the Fuel Fund of Maryland, a nonprofit which works with BGE to help pay energy bills:
» Log onto fuelfundmaryland.org
» Use the special envelope included in BGE’s November and December bills
» Mail a donation to: Fuel Fund of Maryland Inc., 305 W. Chesapeake Ave., Suite 115, Baltimore, MD 21204-4435
Powering down
A Public Service Commission study on terminations of utility service in Maryland from 2006-2007 to 2007-2008 released this week found:
» Terminations of service increased 23 percent, to 89,625 from 72,630
» Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. terminations increased 75 percent, from 35,147 to 20,028
» The total amount owed to utilities rose 43.7 percent
» The average amount owed by a delinquent customer rose 36 percent, to $340 from $250
» The average amount owed by a delinquent BGE customer rose 62 percent, to $596 from $368
Source: Maryland Public Service Commission
