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
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
Aug 24, 2020
On August 10 an explosion in northwest Baltimore killed two people. It also completely destroyed three houses, leaving 30 people with no place to live, with nothing. Three people remain in the hospital. This blast was heard a mile away and many nearby homes were damaged. Neighbors hurried to join rescue crews, saving one woman trapped in the rubble.
BGE, Baltimore Gas and Electric, a subsidiary of Excelon, says it was not the fault of leaking gas pipes. Are we really expected to believe this? For years, Baltimore area customers have paid for an aged system with leaking gas pipes. At least 8,000 gas leaks were reported last year alone.
The state of Maryland has supposedly told the utility to fix its pipes, but at the rate BGE is going, it will take 20 years to do it!
Last year, an office building in a nearby suburb was leveled by an explosion. That one was caused by a BGE gas leak. The only reason there weren’t deaths that time is that the explosion happened on a Sunday. What did the state do? It issued a $240,000 fine. That’s nothing when BGE issues constant rate increases and brings in earnings of three BILLION dollars a year.
The inadequate amount BGE spends on maintenance endangers its customers. In a functioning society, utility companies would complete the maintenance and repairs that are needed. But in this society, nothing matters if it might endanger profits.