BGE General Counsel David Ralph joined Dr. Kay to discuss the city’s conduit agreements and a proposed increase in spending that could affect Baltimore City residents’ bills.
Ralph said the 2016 agreement had conduit users pay the city about $2 per linear foot for maintenance, with the city hiring contractors to do the work. Under the newer agreement, BGE committed to invest $120 million directly in the system—about $30 million a year, according to Ralph.
Ralph said the city later sought to increase the annual investment to $50 million. He argued that the added spending could raise customer costs and opposed imposing it now. During the interview, the host raised concerns about a proposed $9 monthly surcharge and a possible additional $8 rate increase. Ralph said city leaders could prevent the proposed increase by deciding not to pursue the additional spending.
Ralph also disputed City Council President Zeke Cohen’s claims that BGE owes residents money, saying the issue Cohen described was separate from the conduit agreement.
This summary was created with an AI assisted tool.