Could lower energy bills be on the horizon? Md. lawmakers say so under new 4-point plan
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Thousands of Delmarva Power customers have complained about their energy bills spiking in recent weeks.
Maryland delegates, and Congressman Andy Harris, took to Annapolis to lay out a 4-point plan to address the issue.
“This is not the provider’s problems; the providers have to play by the rules that are stabilized by the General Assembly and the Governor, and of course by congress and by Washington,” said Harris. “Those rules, predictably, result in higher energy bills.”
The congressman assured constituents he’s working with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Secretary, Chris Wright, to lower bills.
“He is determined to bring American’s energy bills down, but he can’t do it without cooperation from the states,” said Harris.
The 4-point plan calls for Governor Wes Moore to remove $100 million from the Green Agenda, keep Maryland power plants open and revitalizing closed ones, and a bill called the Climate Solutions Affordability Act. Delegate Brian Chisholm said he also wants the governor to repeal the EmPOWER Maryland Act.
“This has become a slush fund. Look at your power bill. Every single one of them has an EmPOWER Maryland line through it,” said Chisholm.
A quick scan of your energy bill will show a surcharge from EmPOWER Maryland, that varies based on how much energy you use. The act, which came into play in 2008, was meant to help Marylanders save energy and money, by incentivizing them to find greener options to power their homes.
But Delegate Kathy Szeliga said nearly 20 years later, it’s doing quite the opposite.
“We saw it in January, when people’s bills came in, and that’s when that big increase in EmPOWER went into play,” said Szeliga. “They were seeing these fees that went on their bill, and they said, ‘What is this?”
And Harris said a temporary pause is due, until they can find a long-term solution.
“The Governor should unilaterally just eliminate that fee for a while, while we investigate ways to bring down power for everyone in the state,” said Harris.
