The following article was submitted by Sixth District Delegate Robin Grammer about legislation passed to address the cost of energy
The number one issue facing Marylanders is the cost of living. Over the past few years, taxes have gone up, fees have gone up, insurance premiums have increased, the cost of rent has increased, and the prices for essential goods like groceries have skyrocketed.
And, of course, the very same is true for the cost of energy. In recent times, too many Marylanders have had to make the tragic choice between paying their energy bill and putting food on the table.
Why? Because Democrats in Annapolis are pandering to rich, special interest lobbyists instead of listening to Marylander.
Look no further than last Friday, when the Maryland House of Delegates voted to pass House Bill 1. House Bill 1 is sponsored by Brian Crosby. Crosby is the Sponsor of HB 267/SB1 of 2024, which is the legislation that blew up the energy industry competition and eliminated every consumer option from the marketplace, driving up costs.
Evidently, the Democrats think we should continue to trust Crosby on energy policy after he destroyed the entire industry.
Purportedly, House Bill 1 regulates the pass through of compensation to Maryland ratepayers. That is a horrible lie.
In reality, this bill does nothing. The Maryland Public Service Commission, already this authority. Don’t take my word for it.
The Public Service Commission – in both written and spoken testimony reported this fact: “This authority [to regulate public service companies] includes reviewing executive compensation, incentive compensation, and other employee-related costs to determine whether such costs should be appropriately borne by ratepayers or shareholders.”
The purpose of House Bill 1 is to protect politicians. House Bill 1 gives state lawmakers cover, allowing them to clean their skirts while struggling ratepayers see no relief.
House Bill 1 gives state lawmakers cover to say they have done something to push back against BGE, opening the door to their continued and unconscionable monopoly in the energy market – which they created and are looking to expand.
The fact is that our state is going through an unprecedented energy crisis, and I am beyond disgusted that our first action as a legislative body, let alone our first action to confront this crisis, is not an action at all, but a veil for inaction.
House Bill 1 should be called the Politician Protection Act, because that is the only concrete thing it really does.
