Why Is My Bill So High?

Delivery rates cover the costs of the utility to maintain the electric or gas system, plus profits and interest to the utility.

The more a utility spends, the more your bills go up.

BGE has spent $1.4 billion on its gas pipeline replacement program in the last decade. Customers pay for all of that spending plus utility profits. 

This spending has not improved safety. 

BGE’s hazardous leaks per year have increased from 3,000 in 2014 to over 4,000 in 2023.

A 2013 bill known as STRIDE was passed by the legislature in 2013 to try to improve the safety of our gas system.  Unfortunately, the law lacks language requiring spending to prioritize safety. And thus, STRIDE has not delivered on safety promises. 

The law also lacks critical safeguards on spending. As written, STRIDE effectively increases the incentive to spend wastefully - driving up our rates and utility profits, but without improving utility service in any proportion.