Posted on 01/14/25
| News Source: WBAL
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 14, 2025 - An increase is coming to your energy bill in January, according to Baltimore Gas and Electric.
The utility told 11 News that most of that charge is “out of their control.”
The extra fees add up to roughly $26 per month. BGE said that’s why it’s so important to manage your energy use during the cold months in order to save money when possible.
“What you pay for energy is increasing significantly in 2025,” said BGE senior manager of communications Nick Alexopulos.
There will be five separate increases in six months, starting in January. BGE investments account for 36% of the increase, while the other 64% is out of their control, BGE told 11 News.
“This is unprecedented. Unprecedented,” Alexopulos said.
Of the roughly $26 increase, $7.77 is connected to BGE distribution rates, which funds investments in updating aging infrastructure and installing automation technology.
BGE is requesting another $1.55 to make up for $152 million under-recovered in 2023, which stems from a multi-year plan filed before inflation and supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic.
If approved by the Public Service Commission, the fee will start this spring.
Beginning in January, the EmPOWER fee is increasing to $3.34 to fund state-mand
The Brandon Shores Generating Facility was set to retire in June, but the transmission solution to replace it, transferring power from Pennsylvania, will not be ready until 2028. To keep the state powered, the regional transmission operator, PJM, is increasing prices.
A “reliability must run agreement” charge of $4.18 a month will keep the Brandon Shores facility online until the solution is in place.
“If you just shut down Brandon Shores and didn’t have the transmission solution to bring the amount of power that it would have provided into the state, you would have rolling blackouts,” Alexopulos said.
You can contact BGE for energy assistance resources.