Utility changes would hurt bottom line of businesses

It is inaccurate to suggest, as asserted in a recent letter, (“Business group: We support change to Md. utility regulation,” Mar. 19) that “Maryland’s business community fully supports” pending legislation that would alter the process for setting gas and electric rates. Unless you are in the utility business, this legislation will likely hurt your bottom line.

The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington members own or manage more than 23 million square feet of commercial office space and 133,000 apartment rental units located in the Pepco service territory. As with many businesses, our members purchase large amounts of energy. Since the cost of energy is such a significant portion of our members’ costs of operation, the association has been a participant in every Pepco rate case for more than 40 years. The association has been the only voice of the business community in these legal proceedings. Anything that makes it easier for utilities to raise gas and electric rates without thorough review and the independent judgment of the Public Service Commission harms Maryland consumers.

Bills SB 572 and HB 653 grant no new authority to the commission. To the contrary, the bills limit the factors the commission may consider in a rate case and force it to grant rates based on future speculative projections. The bills should be defeated.

Ron Wineholt, Annapolis

The writer is vice president of government affairs of the Maryland Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington.