Public sentiment supports replacing Maryland?s Public Service Commission, protesters said Monday after asking Baltimore City residents to sign pink slips calling for firing the five member commission Monday.
A handful of protesters from MaryPIRG asked passers-by to sign the pink slips. They then delivered the goods to the commission?s secretary on Monday. About 25 people signed the slips at the front door of the commission offices at 6th St. Paul St. in 20 minutes.
“It?s outrageous. Something needs to be done,” said Jacqueline Moore, 36, after signing.
“Even energy assistance is going to be no good for us,” said her friend Cecilia Perry, 40. “I?m helping my daughter pay her bills, so I?m paying for two homes.”
Baltimore residents will be hit with a 72 percent rate increase July 1 unless the General Assembly considers re-regulating the industry in the state when it meets in a special session to consider the utilities Wednesday.
Protest organizer Johanna Neumann called the commission ineffectual, saying they did nothing for the state?s power customers as utilities and electricity providers took advantage of industry deregulation.
“These guys have tremendous power in terms of how the utility is monitored,” Neumann said. “They?ve just been sitting there with their hands in their pockets.”
She said replacing the commission with “responsible public servants” would be a good first step toward correcting seven years of flawed deregulation policy.
Inside the commission offices, secretary Don Eveleth accepted the signed slips, including one giant pink posterboard version signed “Citizens,” without comment.
The number of people who signed in a short period of time shows how troubling the rate increase is, Neumann said.
“We know that people in Maryland are very concerned about this issue. Whether it?s a businessman or a single mother with a couple of kids, higher electric rates affect everyone,” she said.
