The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

Gas and Electric Bills Up, Thanks to Thieves in Suits

Nov 23, 2015

For the fifth time in five years, Baltimore Gas and Electric, BGE, is demanding a rate increase. They told the Public Service Commission that installing smart meters was a 500 million dollar cost. Taxpayers have already put up 200 million dollars of the cost. Now BGE wants to collect the rest.

These smart meters are supposed to save money, by telling us how much energy we use. Supposedly, over the last three years, BGE customers saved 28 million dollars. If that money were spread over all the customers using BGE, it would mean a credit of less than $10 per household each summer. So this savings does not begin to cover the increase that BGE wants to charge us. Delivery charges, for example, have DOUBLED since 2010.

What has not doubled is the credits we get. What has not doubled are family wages–unless we are talking about the wages of some BGE executives!