Parris

Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening signed into law electricderegulation legislation and related tax bills. The legislationenables the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to moveforward on the details of how the state’s power industry will bederegulated. “I am pleased that the legislature responded to myproposal to include a mandated rate reduction for Marylandresidential homeowners in the bill to protect consumers fromunintended rate increases,” Glendening said in an earlier statementregarding the bill. “Frankly, I wish the reduction was more than3%. I also wish that stronger environmental provisions had beenincluded. The General Assembly has strongly indicated, however,that they believe this proposal is the best that can beaccomplished, and this bill is too important for Maryland’s futureto hold up further.” The law will phase in residential customerchoice over a three-year period beginning with one-third ofresidential customers July 1, 2000. Residential customers choosingto keep their utility as supplier would get rate cuts between 3%and 7.5% to be determined by the PSC. The rate cuts would last fouryears and then rates would be deregulated. Six utilities serveMaryland, including Allegheny Power, Baltimore Gas and Electric,Conectiv, Potomac Electric Power, Choptank Electric Cooperative,and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative.

The Maryland General Assembly Friday passed legislation to openthe state’s retail electric industry to competition. Gov. ParrisGlendening is expected to sign the bill into law next week. Thelegislation will phase in residential customer choice over athree-year period beginning with one-third of residential customersJuly 1, 2000. Residential customers choosing to keep their utilityas supplier would get rate cuts of 3% to 7.5% to be determined bythe Public Service Commission. The rate cuts would last four yearsand then rates would be deregulated.