Hogan and Markell join forces to oppose electricity fees

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Delaware Gov. Jack Markell are teaming up to fight electricity rates they say are unfair to residents of their states.

They both attended a news conference near the Maryland-Delaware state line between Ocean City, Maryland, and Fenwick Island, Delaware, on Wednesday.

The two governors are opposing a decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that they say would require residents in both states to pay nearly 90 percent of the costs for an energy transmission project that they say benefits mostly New Jersey, and not Maryland or Delaware.

“We think it sounds more bureaucratic that this is the way we’ve done it before and this is the way we’re going to do it,” says Governor Markell. “I think anybody who looks at this from a common sense perspective says if another place is getting 90 percent of the benefit, we shouldn’t be picking up ninety percent of the cost. It’s that simple.”

FERC initially approved the cost allocation plan for a transmission line as part of PJM’s Artificial Island nuclear complex. Last week, FERC granted an appeal to consider a rehearing of the issue.

47 ABC has reached out to FERC for a comment.

As of 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, we have not received a comment.

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