Emily Warfield Scarr

join www.upgrademaryland.org for an update on the #Maryland legislative session Monday March 30 7pm:

tinyurl.com/UpMDGA26

Packed room for hearing on the Break STRIDE Act - to end utility bill surcharges fueling wasteful gas utility spending. @emilyscarr.bsky.social on the proponents panel on behalf of Maryland PIRG

The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia (DCPSC) approved a modified version of Washington Gas’ so-called District Strategic Accelerated Facility Enhancement (“District SAFE”) Plan to replace at-risk gas pipes.

Lobbyist Disclosure Failures Disadvantage Maryland Climate Advocates, According to Audit - Inside Climate News The opaque system allows industry operatives to shape legislative decisions with little public oversight, a nonprofit research group has found.

Our 3-year investigation into shadowy undisclosed lobbying by the American Petroleum Institute and various MD utilities has broken, permanently, the seal on secret lobbying in Maryland.

Thanks to @emilyscarr.bsky.social and PIRG for blazing a trail on this !

insideclimatenews.org/news/0203202...

Today Del. Embry presented her bill for increased transparency and oversight on underground transmission lines. Learn more: www.thebanner.com/economy/bge-...

What we learned from Exelon and BGE’s recent shareholder report. Increased spending is was leads to rate increases and higher profits. Not all spending is bad but customers keep paying more and getting less.

BGE profits reach another record high while failing on customer service, safety, affordability pirg.org/maryland/med...

BGE brought in a record breaking $578 million in profits in 2025, a $50 million increase over 2024.

In Annapolis, legislators are considering a variety of bills to address BGE’s mismanagement, excessive spending and excessive profits.

pirg.org/maryland/med...

Quick fixes won’t solve high energy bills As grid spending increases, policymakers should look beyond residential customers to cover costs, writes Arjun Krishnaswami, a senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists.

High utility bills are driving states to soften rate hikes through demand flexibility and making it easier to build clean energy.

We should move quickly on these good policies. But we also need more fundamental reform.

New from me on long-term affordability ⬇️

www.utilitydive.com/news/quick-f...

House caps amount of utility employee salaries that can come out of ratepayers' pockets - Maryland Matters The House voted Friday to set new limits on the use of ratepayer dollars to pay salaries for employees of investor-owned utilities, which comes as legislative leaders aim to address high electric bill...

The House voted Friday to set new limits on the use of ratepayer dollars to pay salaries for employees of investor-owned utilities, which comes as legislative leaders aim to address high electric bills in the state and across the region.
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/07/m...

As utility bills and profits skyrocket, we applaud House leaders for pushing back on excessive utility charges and wasteful spending with HB1. The state is right to limit how much state-granted monopolies can charge their customers for executive salaries. pirg.org/maryland/med...

Could Maryland leave the PJM grid? This bill would study it. - Maryland Matters As energy bills continue to rise, many have heaped blame on PJM Interconnection, the operator of the region’s electrical grid. Would it make any sense for Maryland to leave it? A House bill calls for ...

As energy bills continue to rise, many have heaped blame on PJM Interconnection, the operator of the region’s electrical grid. Would it make any sense for Maryland to leave it? A House bill calls for a study of that very question.
marylandmatters.org/2026/02/04/m...

Baltimore Peninsula's future is uncertain. BGE tearing up nearby roads isn’t. With just one phase complete, the future of Baltimore Peninsula has never been foggier. But BGE is still planning to build that underground transmission line to the site, which will cause traffic disruptions...

Baltimore Peninsula’s future is uncertain. BGE tearing up nearby roads isn’t.

BGE bills keep rising as delivery charges take up more of the total Customers facing higher BGE bills are questioning rising delivery charges, and the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel says those costs have increased faster than at other utilities.

BGE bills keep rising as delivery charges take up more of the total

www.wmar2news.com/matterformal...

Your BGE bill has definitely gone up. Here’s why. A by-the-numbers look at why BGE bills are rising again.

Your BGE bill has definitely gone up. Here’s why. www.thebanner.com/economy/bge-...

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill | GUEST COMMENTARY Baltimore Gas and Electric’s expensive pipe replacement projects are more about profit than safety, writes Sofia Gilroy.

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill, by Maryland PIRG Associate Sofia Gilroy www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

How BGE is unnecessarily driving up your gas bill

www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/14/b...

New report: Gas utilities spent record amount replacing leaky pipes in 2024 - CommonWealth Beacon The latest data on utilities’ work to replace leaky pipes paints an even more damning picture of GSEP as costs balloon with few additional results — driving up ratepayer bills — and places recent refo...

Familiar story ...The latest report on MA pipeline safety programs shows utilities are spending more but the miles of pipe being replaced remains flat commonwealthbeacon.org/energy/new-r...

New House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk stresses good governance, civility Maryland’s new speaker of the House of Delegates faces a budget shortfall and thorny debates about immigration enforcement, affordability and redistricting. She says she’s ready for the challenge.

“Do I have all of the answers right now? No, I don’t. But am I willing to do the work? And are my members willing to do the work? Absolutely. Absolutely.”

Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk charts a new course in the Maryland House.

📸: @jessicagallagher.bsky.social

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Maryland agency warns BGE customers about 2026 rate increases as rising energy bills prompt concerns On Jan. 1, 2026, Baltimore Gas and Electric's (BGE) gas rates increased by 4.2 cents, and its electric distribution increased by 0.1 cents, impacting energy bills for homeowners and business owners in Maryland.

Maryland agency warns BGE customers about 2026 rate increases as rising energy bills prompt concerns

It’s time for the PSC to end multi-year ratemaking to return more balance and accountability to ratemaking in Maryland.

Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula Kevin Plank will no longer develop Baltimore Peninsula, after only about one-tenth of the projected square footage has been built.

Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula

From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...

First candidate verified for Anne Arundel public campaign finance funds Anne Arundel County executive candidate James Kitchin is tapping into the county’s new public campaign financing system.

Exciting to see Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County implementing their small donor public financing for the first time this year

www.baltimoresun.com/2025/12/14/k...

Relying on contract labor drives up customer costs and BGE profits.

“If BGE continues to underinvest in its workforce, the union said the company will be under even more pressure to hire contractors… that would jeopardize the reliability of BGE’s services and drive up costs to customers.”

Thanks for your work RJ. My kids aren’t getting any AI toys this Hanukkah or anytime soon.

www.today.com/video/why-ai...

Guilty pleas, $100K fine for company after lead paint chips fell from TV tower Maryland's Attorney General announced guilty pleas and a $100,000 fine against Skyline Tower Painting and its president, holding them accountable for a 2022 tower-washing project that showered Baltimo...

Guilty pleas, $100K fine for Skyline Tower Painting for a 2022 tower-washing project that showered TV Hill with hazardous lead paint. www.thebanner.com/community/cr...

BGE is charging customers billions under the banner of safety for a program that may actually be delaying the work to replace, repair the riskiest cast iron pipes.

Fast-Tracked and Flawed: New Analysis Finds BGE’s $19.5 Billion Gas Pipeline Program Fails to Prioritize Safety, Drives Up Costs pirg.org/maryland/fou...

Every time BGE tears up Baltimore’s streets to replace pipes, they make more money. Don’t take my word for it, take their most recent public earnings statement – BGE’s 3rd quarter profits increased by 82% since last year… 1/4