Maritza Falchetti
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
In America, decorating for the holidays is the best way to show your holiday spirit, but when it comes to the increasing electricity rates, that spirit may be dwindling.
Each time a regulated utility company wants to increase the price it charges for distributing electricity or natural gas, it applies to the Public Service Commission (PSC). BGE requested approval for their second multi-year rate plan that will increase over the next three years.
“As someone who loves to decorate, especially for Halloween and Christmas, I will have to limit my decorations due to the significant BGE rate increase. Decorations bring a time of love, creativity, and bonding that help unite everyone as one,” said Michelle, a Baltimore Resident and mother of three.
Rates are set to increase over more than a kwh starting in 2024, and multi-year rate plans tend to have a massive impact on residents because they are based on projected spending and allow utilities to charge customers for the costs of projects before those projects are used to serve customers.
“I’ve only lived in Baltimore City for a little over a year, so hearing about a new proposed multi-year rate plan did hinder my previous holiday plans. To continue to decorate my entire house with lights on the inside and outside is no longer feasible,” said Michelle.
The increase in BGE rates has altered how we go about our everyday decisions as a community and is changing how we celebrate as a culture and society. Although the PSC must approve changes like these, it is unfair to residents to charge residents more based on a projection, and many Baltimore residents see an issue with the increase.
The holiday season is a very important and special time for families all across America and having to alter that due to a sudden increase in electricity costs is devastating and will also impact, families who celebrate along with businesses that provide these decorations that we will start to see less of.