A chance to create a new public utility

This woman is exactly right. The fact is that we should have NEVER de-regulated BGE and the entirety of the rest of the industries that we have recently deregulated.
The Repukians dream of 'Hands off the economy, bastards!' has been exposed for what it is: a pipe dream that Democrats should be telling them "We told you so, you F***TARDS! Now, we are going to do things OUR WAY!"

If you think that BGE is giving it to us up the wazoo now imagine what it would be with the Annapolis Mafia running it.
They are the ones that deregulated it not the republicans in Washington. You think that the 80+ percent increase was bad imagine what it will be like with the Annapolis democrats running the show. Every year there would be rate increases to pay for their pet projects or giveaway programs to get re-elected (again). If they get their hands on a money making concern they will divert the money from reinvesting in new plants or cleaner energy into overblown budgets. They will see any money above and beyond the cost of acquiring BGE and paying it's associated costs of doing business into a financial windfall to spend as they please, and trust me they will be more than pleased to spend it. It would not be run as a non-profit utility, it would be run as a way to increase spending on non energy programs.

MarkP wrote:

If you think that BGE is giving it to us up the wazoo now imagine what it would be with the Annapolis Mafia running it.
They are the ones that deregulated it not the republicans in Washington. You think that the 80+ percent increase was bad imagine what it will be like with the Annapolis democrats running the show. Every year there would be rate increases to pay for their pet projects or giveaway programs to get re-elected (again). If they get their hands on a money making concern they will divert the money from reinvesting in new plants or cleaner energy into overblown budgets. They will see any money above and beyond the cost of acquiring BGE and paying it's associated costs of doing business into a financial windfall to spend as they please, and trust me they will be more than pleased to spend it. It would not be run as a non-profit utility, it would be run as a way to increase spending on non energy programs.

Exactly!!!!

Amen!!

I meant amen to the letter author, not you stupid greed heads.

Baltimore Resident wrote:

I meant amen to the letter author, not you stupid greed heads.

The "stupid greed heads" would be the Maryland Legislature and Governor if they got their hands on BGE. You would see greed on a level not seen in this country since before the breakup of Standard Oil. They would rape and pillage the company and it's ratepayers like the Mongol hordes on a rampage.
Look at what they did with the tobacco settlement money, it went to everything except anti-smoking programs for which was where a large portion was slated to go, what makes you think that this would be any different? Look at the past actions of that august body and apply them the idea of Maryland owning a utility. You will see why it's a bad idea.

MarkP wrote:

<quoted text>
The "stupid greed heads" would be the Maryland Legislature and Governor if they got their hands on BGE. You would see greed on a level not seen in this country since before the breakup of Standard Oil. They would rape and pillage the company and it's ratepayers like the Mongol hordes on a rampage.
Look at what they did with the tobacco settlement money, it went to everything except anti-smoking programs for which was where a large portion was slated to go, what makes you think that this would be any different? Look at the past actions of that august body and apply them the idea of Maryland owning a utility. You will see why it's a bad idea.

If you think the tobacco settlement money was imbezzeled, just wait to see what they do with the slots revenue. The Dems are soooo corrupt in this State it isin't even funny. The real funny thing is that we keep re-electing them. Go figure?

Let's face it, all politicians are corrupt! Dems give SOME to social programs repubs give to their rich friends while we in the middle get to pay for it all.

ah yes.....the good old days....

poss wrote:

Let's face it, all politicians are corrupt! Dems give SOME to social programs repubs give to their rich friends while we in the middle get to pay for it all.

Trust me, the Dems give to their rich friends too. I'm not saying Republicans aren't corrupt but the State of Maryland is run by the Dems and they have a long history of corruption in this State.

mike p wrote:

<quoted text>
If you think the tobacco settlement money was imbezzeled, just wait to see what they do with the slots revenue. The Dems are soooo corrupt in this State it isin't even funny. The real funny thing is that we keep re-electing them. Go figure?

Speaking of slots. What is the betting money (pun intended)say as to whether the referendum on slots will pass or not?

ZEUS wrote:

<quoted text>
Speaking of slots. What is the betting money (pun intended)say as to whether the referendum on slots will pass or not?

I believe its going to pass because the people of Maryland have no idea what the admendment intends. The Dems are licking their chops at the idea of new money and how the spending can continue.

The Mob has taken over our government, at all levels.

mike p wrote:

<quoted text>
I believe its going to pass because the people of Maryland have no idea what the admendment intends. The Dems are licking their chops at the idea of new money and how the spending can continue.

I hope not, because as you say, the money will go to places other than education. This can be seen with the latest wordsmithing of the referendum wording.

Also this kind of revenue raiser does not belong in the Maryland State Constitution.

I find myself on the horns of a dilemma relative to making BGE a public utility again! I have always believed in the free market for selling products, e.g. many suppliers and many customers. However the idea of competing the cost of electricity struck me as a crock, long before the Enron debacle. Deferred maintenance, cutting corners, fraud etc. was the proscribed method of reducing the cost per kilowatt.

It seems to me what the public should be interested in is getting reliable electrical service, no brownouts, at a fair price. The greens have a hidden agenda they are opposed to the source of the power, e.g. no nuclear.(The power lines have no interest as to the source of electricity flowing.) The state politicians must also be kept from legislating technology based on the whim of who is in office at the time. Let the utility company managers and the Maryland PSC (devoid of politics) make technical decisions to meet growing electricity demand.

There are some products, e.g. gas, electricity, bus lines, TV cable that have to reside as some kind of a public utility or limited/regulated monopoly, otherwise we end up duplicating assets for the same product. There are well run electric utilities that maintain their equipment, provide reliable service etc, such as in Hagerstown MD (as the Baltimore Sun has pointed out) and in other states. Perhaps the Maryland PSC, the state politicians and the electrical utility managers need to look at successful public utilities. The customer is always going to bear the cost per kilowatt.

Really? The current average cost per kilowatt hour produced at American nuclear plants is 1.7 cents and coal-fired is 1.8 cents. Oil and gas average 6.0 cents per kilowatt hour. So, why are BGE consumers currently paying nearly 12 cents per kilowatt at the deregulated "market rate". Before deregulation we used to pay about 7 cents per kilowatt. Could someone explain this? Could you explain why "red" states that have state-regulated, state-owned, and municipal utilities (Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, Nebraska, etc.) have lower utility rates (5 to 7 cents per kilowatt) than those operating as deregulated free market interstate monopolies(California, New York, Florida) which charge between 8 and 14 cents per kilowatt? Please explain.

MarkP wrote:

If you think that BGE is giving it to us up the wazoo now imagine what it would be with the Annapolis Mafia running it.
They are the ones that deregulated it not the republicans in Washington. You think that the 80+ percent increase was bad imagine what it will be like with the Annapolis democrats running the show. Every year there would be rate increases to pay for their pet projects or giveaway programs to get re-elected (again). If they get their hands on a money making concern they will divert the money from reinvesting in new plants or cleaner energy into overblown budgets. They will see any money above and beyond the cost of acquiring BGE and paying it's associated costs of doing business into a financial windfall to spend as they please, and trust me they will be more than pleased to spend it. It would not be run as a non-profit utility, it would be run as a way to increase spending on non energy programs.

I'm sorry, I couldn't finish reading the whole letter...I was laughing too hard at the first line.

mike p wrote:

<quoted text>
Trust me, the Dems give to their rich friends too. I'm not saying Republicans aren't corrupt but the State of Maryland is run by the Dems and they have a long history of corruption in this State.

We have the politicians money can buy!

When did I become a rate payer as opposed to a BGE customer. Makes it sound like I'm paying something for nothing.

What's so funny? Explain.

Rico wrote:

I'm sorry, I couldn't finish reading the whole letter...I was laughing too hard at the first line.