HUGHESVILLE, Md. – The Maryland Public Service Commission will hold a public comment hearing on the rate increase request filed in May 2024 by the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO). The utility’s customer-members and other interested parties are welcome to take part in the hearing before Public Utility Law Judge Christine L. Burke.
The hearing will take place on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at SMECO’s Headquarters, 15035 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville. The hearing will also have a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. To participate virtually, please sign up in advance to speak by sending an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by noon on July 22. For those who just want to watch the hearing, please visit the Public Utility Law Judge’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2X6wLiP
According to SMECO’s application, the company proposes a rate increase of $37.9 million, which SMECO states would result in an approximately 11% overall bill increase for the average customer-member. SMECO serves approximately 176,000 residential, commercial and industrial customer-members in Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties.
The Commission will also accept written comments (until August 2, 2024) which can be sent by mail or submitted electronically at https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-a-public-comment/
Comments sent by mail should be addressed to: Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. So that they are noted in the proper case file, all comments should reference Case No. 9738.
As if Democrats are going to say no to energy price hikes
You voted for them
Why are they spending crazy amounts of money on all these projects to put the lines underground if they have to raise our rates so much?
They spent OUR dollars on an above ground (w/poles) line, where existing underground already existed. It lead straight to the site where Md. wanted to build their new juvenile detention center in Waldorf. The lines & poles were installed to feed a property that was not zoned for that intended use and was scrapped. So now there are poles on a half of mile of roadway with no houses on it (all open space) and SMECO destroyed the scenic road while enabling the possibility of somebody hitting an unused pole during inclement weather.
Please send any increase for my bill to Joe Biden
Let him pay it since there is no inflation at the White House
You voted for him
New homes and businesses go up every day- more customers.
Why could this possibly be necessary?
So more people paying in, AND everyone gets a price increase. Yes. That makes sense.
Instead of the new customers making up the deficit from their spending.
My power quality goes down, and price goes up. Make it make sense.
You voted for him
Bidenomics…
11% Increase? But Joe says there is no inflation. And always tells the truth.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Why does every customer have to pay more because of an increased draw on electricity for EVs? Charge those with EVs an increased amount to power their vehicles and stop telling me I have to reduce my electricity use.
Same old rhetoric in the comments. Seriously need to learn how economics works….More people require more resources… Equals more money
Or we impose more regulations which drive up energy costs.
You gotta love this comment section everyone bashing on Biden yet they all voted for him, bunch of hypocrites
I need help: what are we supposed to say besides no?
what you have to watch for on the bill are the additional charges. You’d be surprised shocked at the taxes that are on a bill if you ask for an explanation for them. Does MD still have the highest car titles in the nation?
are batteries cheaper/ the same price?
it doesn’t need to be corrected if you feel like Maryland is over- priced. I do wonder, with the prices we have in this area, if we are charged more because it is thought we can handle it/ we can absorb it,
Don’t correct SMECO at your own expense
Yes of course,,
After all the increases,, we still love having more increase to cost of living,,
Thank you Joe Biden,, YOUR THE MAN!
Thought most of their power is coming from solar now? Should be 11% decrease
SMECO does a fantastic job of keeping our power on. Burying lines underground is a superb idea as it keeps falling trees from taking out electricity, and Charles County (for that matter all of SoMd) has a lot of rural with lots of trees lining the roadways. If they need an 11% cost raise to keep the electricity on and stay up-to-date with the latest technology, etc advances, fine with me. For those who think it’s not warranted, move to Houston.