O’Malley to Seek Surcharge to Harden Md. Electric Grid

Charlie Neibergall/AP - Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to ask state utility regulators to allow the electric companies to collect money in advance to pay for maintenance upgrades. In exchange, utilities would have to be more reliable.

The Washington Post - by Aaron C. Davis - October 2, 2012

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Wednesday will ask the state’s utility regulators to adopt a controversial plan to allow electric companies to charge ratepayers in advance of serious maintenance upgrades.

In exchange, the utilities would have to meet a stricter standard of reliability.

The plan, O’Malley said, will add a “dollar or two” to most Marylanders’ monthly electric bills so that Pepco and other companies could complete several years of planned tree trimming, line burial and other improvements in a shorter span of about 24 months.

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