BALTIMORE—Today
Maryland PIRG and other consumer groups delivered the Public Service
Commission members ‘pink slips’ for failing consumers. Citing repeated
failures to protect the public interest and violating the law, the
consumer groups called for the PSC to be replaced by qualified public
servants.
“By
replacing the members of the Public Service Commission, legislators
will take the first step in the long march to repair our utility,” said
Johanna Neumann, advocate for Maryland PIRG.
The
groups argue that the public service commission has failed in their
obligation to protecting consumer interests around utility issues.
“State
law requires the PSC to oversee the wholesale energy auction and ensure
‘verifiable, prudently-incurred cost plus reasonable rate of return’.
The current PSC never investigated whether Constellation’s energy
production costs warranted higher rates,” said Neumann.
Maryland
PIRG has challenged the PSC in court for refusing to release the
minutes of a closed door meeting with Gov. Ehrlich’s Chief of Staff,
Chip DiPaula on March 14th.
“As
a quasi-judicial body it is the duty of the PSC to consider all the
relevant evidence before passing judgment”, said Neumann, referring to
the committee’s unwillingness to hold full evidentiary hearings with
cross-examinations on issues ranging from the proposed merger between
Constellation and Florida Power & Light, and the utility rate
increases.
Activists
delivered a giant ‘pink slip’ to the Public Service Commission’s office
along with slips signed by Maryland citizens, notifying the PSC that
they have failed the public.
