The following article has been submitted by District 6 Delegate Bob Long about a proposed rate increase by BGE.
On July 2, 2026, BGE asked the Maryland Public Service Commission for yet another electricity distribution rate increase. If approved, the average residential customer will pay about $8 more every month.
Enough is enough. Maryland families are already struggling with higher costs for groceries, housing, and everyday necessities. They should not be forced to pay even more just to keep the lights on during the hottest days of the year.
I will be calling on the Maryland Public Service Commission to reject this rate hike.
Marylanders deserve relief—not another bill they can't afford.BGE says this increase is necessary to maintain the electric grid. But after years of
rising delivery charges, customers have reached their breaking point.
Since 2010, gas delivery rates have increased at nearly three times the rate of inflation, while electric delivery charges have risen at roughly twice the rate of inflation. Families have paid more year after year, and now BGE wants them to pay even more.
To make matters worse, the Maryland General Assembly recently passed the RELIEF Act of 2026 to help families save up to $150 a year. This proposed increase would wipe out much of that relief before families ever have a chance to benefit. This is the predictable result of misguided energy policies. Maryland has pushed aggressive mandates while allowing reliable power generation to disappear.
The result has been higher costs, greater strain on our electric system, and growing uncertainty for families and businesses. Telling people to use less electricity during a dangerous heatwave is not a serious solution—it’s an admission that our energy policy is failing.
I’ve consistently fought for a different approach: keep reliable power plants like Brandon Shores operating, protect grid reliability, and pursue an energy policy that balances environmental goals with affordability and common sense.
Maryland families deserve affordable, reliable electricity—not endless rate hikes. It’s time for the Public Service Commission to stand with consumers, reject this increase,and send a clear message that hardworking Marylanders are not an unlimited source of revenue.