Beginning this week, and throughout the month of September, all BGE customers will receive a $170 credit on their energy bills. This credit is part of a much larger $2 billion settlement that our state was able to secure from Constellation Energy and is one of the largest settlements of its kind in U.S. history.
For more than half of all BGE customers, this credit will represent a 10 percent reduction in their annual energy bills, but I am also well aware that this credit does little to offset the higher cost of gasoline, the higher cost of food and the higher cost of energy bills overall that our families have been struggling with, as our national economy heads for a recession.
Yet, it is my hope that as our kids head back to school that this credit will allow our families some extra income to help make ends meet.
When our administration took office nearly a year and a half ago, we made a promise to fight every battle with powerful energy corporations on behalf of the people of Maryland. We have not won every battle, but with a restored Pubic Service Commission, and with professional and competent regulators back on the job, we have kept our promise to fight every battle, which has resulted in significant long-term savings for our families.
In addition to the $2 billion settlement with Constellation, we recently won a major victory with federal regulators to end unfair pricing practices that cost our families $85 million a year. Today, we are leading a coalition of four states and consumer advocates in a $12 billion complaint with federal regulators against unfair rules that benefit energy corporations while consumers continue to take it on the chin.
I’m sure many of you are following the presidential election between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain very closely. But regardless of who you are supporting in this election, all agree that we need to secure America’s energy future and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. No issue is more important to helping our families deal with rising energy bills and gasoline costs, securing our national security and improving our economy here at home.
Even as these issues are debated at the national level, we have taken action to begin reducing our own dependence on foreign oil in Maryland. Working together, we are exploring a series of initiatives designed to help us secure our long-term energy future, including conservation projects and new innovative partnerships with local governments to provide “peaking plants” that feed our energy grid when demand is at its highest and reduce costs for our families when energy costs the most.
In our state, we are working to become a national leader in renewable energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but Maryland cannot do it alone. We need a strong federal partner and national policy to secure our energy future, improve our economy and strengthen our national security.
As we work together to overcome our challenges and protect our shared priorities, we will continue to fight every battle with big oil and giant energy interests on behalf of Maryland rate-payers and families, as we work toward a safer, more secure and more sustainable future that we all prefer.
He said:
“Free markets alone will not secure that future. If we want a more secure, more renewable and more affordable energy future, then there are things that we must do together to bring about that stronger future that we prefer.”
– Aug. 15 speech to the Maryland Association of Counties
You say:
For a direct link to Gov. O’Malley, go to this letter under the Opinion tab at baltimoreexaminer.com.
