On Thursday, Baltimore Gas and Electric filed a rate hike request with the Maryland Public Service Commission affecting over 1 million customers.

The filing states that Maryland electric bills would increase by an average of $100 a year, which would equal about $8 a month if approved in full.

“Today’s announcement may be the boiling point for Baltimore residents bracing for dangerously high temperatures this holiday weekend, worried about paying to keep their homes cool after a decade of rising BGE bills,” said Emily Scarr, Maryland PIRG Foundation Senior Advisor.

A press release from BGE states that the rate case filed “aligns with a significantly reduced investment strategy focused almost entirely on the most immediate risks to the electric system.”

“Nothing matters more to our customers right now than affordability,” said Tamla Olivier, president and CEO of BGE. “We heard clearly that customers are feeling pressure from rising costs across every aspect of their lives. That’s why we delayed this filing, took a hard look at our plans, and reduced investments to only the bare-bones maintenance the system needs.”

BGE says the filing focuses on maintaining the electric system, which includes maintaining its reliability and substations, and introducing a new customer assistance program.

The utility company said that while it has reduced and delayed investments to help limit customer impacts, there is a clear tradeoff to continued reductions.

“There is no scenario where we can stop maintaining the electric system altogether. We made deliberate decisions to postpone large bodies of work, future-focused projects, and replacement of aging equipment,” Olivier said. “As the region’s power needs grow, and weather-related impacts become more frequent and severe, delaying essential maintenance for too long ultimately leads to more outages, longer restoration times, more emergency repairs, and higher costs for customers in the future.”

BGE says the filing includes a FlexPay program that would allow eligible customers to prepay their anticipated energy use.

According to consumer advocates at the Office of the People’s Counsel, BGE electric delivery rates nearly doubled in 2010, increasing at about twice the rate of inflation.

BGE profits have increased from $147 million in 2010 to $578 million in 2025, driven by a combination of increased gas and electric capital spending and a high profit rate, according to the PIRG Foundation.

Gas delivery rates have tripled since 2010.

“We plan to review this latest rate hike request in detail, but have serious concerns that as BGE rates and profits skyrocket, customers are facing systematic failures of customer service and safety. We call on the Commission to take a serious look at BGE’s spending and reject its request for an excessive profit rate,” Scarr said.

The filing will be reviewed by the Maryland Public Service Commission during a proceeding over the next several months, which will include public input, according to BGE.

For the new rates to take effect, the commission would have to enter an order, which would be expected in early 2027.

For more information, click here.

When it comes to tipped individuals, employers are required to pay at least $4 per hour and ensure that the total tipped amount and hourly pay match the county’s minimum wage standards.

Gas Prices To See Slight Spike

A release issued by the Comptroller of Maryland states the gas tax will increase to 46.6 cents per gallon, a roughly six-tenths bump from current levels. For diesel fuel, drivers will see taxes jump to 47.5 cents per gallon.

The spike, which is in addition to the federal tax that amounts to 18.4 cents per gallon, marks the first increase in two years for the state.

Excusing Students For Civic Engagement

Each of Maryland’s county school boards must include provisions that allow for an excused or discretionary absence for any student participating in civic engagement activities, which range from providing testimony to meeting with lawmakers and taking part in a Maryland General Assembly program.

Free Menstrual Hygiene Products

All higher education institutions with on-campus housing will be required to provide free menstrual hygiene products in health centers on or before Aug. 1, 2028.

MONTGEOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Rescue crews were searching early Thursday morning for a person reported missing in the Potomac River near Great Falls Park in Montgomery County, Maryland.

A spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service said a swift water team was called to the Great Falls Park/Potomac River area for a missing person in the water around 6:15 a.m. Initial reports indicated the missing person was with a group when he entered the water and did not resurface.

SEE ALSO | DC closes parts of Potomac, Anacostia waterways for Fourth of July security

Swift water teams were actively searching the area.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.