THE WEEKENDS ARE MY POLITICAL ACTION DAYS SO THIS IS SOME OF WHAT WE NEED TO SHOUT OUT ABOUT NEXT WEEK:
WE SEE A PATTERN IN BALTIMORE OF INTIMIDATING ANYBODY WHO ACTIVELY PROTESTS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT MARGINALIZES MOST PEOPLE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS WHO PEACEFULLY FIGHT FOR JOBS AND JUSTICE RECEIVE UNUSUAL AND HARSH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS....IT IS MEANT TO SILENCE PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!!!
SHOUT OUT FOR MR. MAC ARTHUR AND FOLLOW HIS CASE. TELL CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY BERNSTEIN AND YOUR INCUMBENTS TO STOP THE INJUSTICE
Saturday, December 1, 2012 FREEDOM UNDER FIRE -- I WILL DIE FREE!!!
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Baltimore crime comes in many forms.
When government tramples over the rights of it's citizens, and the media stands by and look, it is difficult to decide who has committed the greater crime.
When civil rights are willfully violated by the government, particularly by law enforcement -- charged with protecting and serving us -- there can be few crimes with a greater victim to society.
As bad, or perhaps worse than a government trampling over the rights of it's citizens, is a press that sits by and does nothing but look on while this happens. Not only is this morally reprehensible, but it defies the very purpose of a free press in a free society.
Purpose Of The Press
For the press is not needed to entertain. There's nothing wrong with diversions, but this should never become the primary purpose of our press.
When football and baseball scores, TV and movie reviews start to dominate more space, and gain ever higher placement and prominence on your news sites, know that freedom everywhere is under fire. The smoke is rising but you're being told to look the other way.
The protections guaranteed us by law are routinely disregarded by our government. Sadly, these things were prophesied in the Bible, long, long ago. Some have studied the holy scriptures and are well aware of this. The vast majority of Americans are completely clueless.
We cannot entirely place blame on the common man for not knowing. After all, he's been conditioned all his life to rely on the press to keep him informed and aware. To make sure he's knows what is important. To warn him of looming disaster and threats.
So when the common man fails to see the danger ahead, proceeds blindly onward and is slaughtered, who then can we blame for this?
It is highly doubtful that any of these words written here today will effect much change in the manner in which mainstream media operates. I have absolutely no hope of witnessing such a miracle.
We Are Already At War
What I do have hope for, is that others will pick up the torch where I drop it. If the standard I've marched forward into battle bearing were to fall, I would hope that 10 brave souls would rush forward to pick it up.
In our age, much of the battles will be fought as an information war. A war to capture your mind, to divert your attention. To keep you from focusing on things that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
We now face issues that are a serious threat not only to our way of life, that we've all come to enjoy and take for granted, but also to our very existence as a free country.
To many, these words may sound strange. To many, they may seem odd. Still others will quickly dismiss it as nonsense.
But to the chosen ones. To those tasked by God to do a great work. These words should serve to ignite the fire within. To wake up souls. Open your eyes wide. Lift your head up to the sky. Seek the protection of the Almighty and march on!
Anyone Can Be Erased
Later today, for the first time ever, I will take to the airwaves to relate my story, of being held in custody for 40 days in Baltimore correctional facilities. There were no charges. There was no warrant. Not even bail. When friends and family, including Maryland State Del. Jill P. Carter -- a defense attorney -- made official inquiry to the correctional facilities, they were all soundly told, I was not there. Even popular talk host and former State Senator Larry Young could not locate me through official channels.
As if that wasn't scary enough, that an innocent man, who's committed no crime could be held so long without anyone knowing. I had friends working inside the jail. Covertly I was allowed to see the internal inmate database. Indeed, through various searches using a multitude of matrices, with my own eyes I saw, there was no one even matching my description, anywhere to be found.
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NKJV
There Will Be Casualties
What happened to James MacArthur was not only detestable, but should be seen as a serious threat to the peace, safety and liberty of any and all Americans. For if it happened to one, it can certainly happen to all. You could be next.
It was the great American Martin Luther King, who said; "injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere."
Another great American once said give "me liberty or give me death."
These are the words I now live by, in what's left of my relatively short, troubled life. I choose to be among the company of the courageous, and not among cowards.
I've lived a life that's been troubled, not because of drugs or alcohol, because I shun those substances. Not because of lack of opportunity or criminal wrong doing. No! My life has been a life troubled, simply because as one who decided long ago, to always go boldly forward with the truth. At times I found myself standing out front, facing the enemy, all alone.
The Future Belongs To The Brave
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 NKJV
Looking to my left, no one there. Look to my right, everyone took flight. A check to the rear, there was no one there.
While the everyday citizen is rarely in a position to make much impact by being a truth teller. The power and value of standing boldly on principle should never be dismissed. For what is done by one, is often copied by others.
Through word of mouth, person to person, and via the the near magical powers of the internet, words spoken by one mere man, even a common man, could be the media equivalent of one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
Though some should meet disastrous fate, as in the case of mine. This should not serve as discouragement. For in war, even wars that were won, the winning side often suffers serious casualty as a result of fighting the good fight.
Your media may have failed you. Your press may have passed on, deciding not to alert you of the dangers that lay ahead. But James MacArthur has not. James MacArthur is not afraid. Not afraid of anything on this Earth. Not any man, beast or powers that be.
It is true I desire to live a long life, free of troubles and stress, to one day have grandchildren bouncing on my lap, but I am not so naive to think this is guaranteed to any man.
A man by the name of Douglas MacArthur-- you may have heard of him -- once said; “there is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.”
I intend to make the most of the moments allowed me on this Earth. To seize upon every opportunity given me by the grace of God. While I am not perfect, as is no man. I intend to do all in my power, to not only live the kind of life God would have me live in my personal walk. But to carry on with confidence and bravery in doing his work.
Remember, a crime is a crime, no matter who, or what entity commits it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently busy at work building an all day news, talk and information radio network, all while managing to elude evil people out for his neck, A.F. James MacArthur has become the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
BALTIMORE HAS ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS IN THE COUNTRY. LABOR AND WAGES, POLICE BRUTALITY/WEALTH INEQUITY/REGRESSIVE REVENUE COLLECTION ALL WORK AGAINST THE LOWER/MIDDLE CLASS. WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE SAME INCUMBENTS ARE VOTED INTO OFFICE OVER AND AGAIN.
START ORGANIZING AND FIND PEOPLE TO RUN AND VOTE FOR LABOR/JUSTICE CANDIDATES NEXT ELECTION.
Human Rights Dialogue MDPublic
By Luis Larin, Todd Cherkis and Sergio España
___________________________________________________
IN MARYLAND, GOVERNOR O'MALLEY HANDED THE CITIZENS OVER TO A NATIONAL ENERGY CORPORATION. HE SAID---PUBLIC UTILITIES DO NOT GIVE SHAREHOLDER VALUE.....WE NEED RATEPAYERS MAXIMIZING PROFITS! SO, THIS MONTH WE WILL YET AGAIN GO TO AND WRITE THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TELLING THEM THE RATEPAYERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRIVATE CORPORATION'S OPERATIONAL COSTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. EXELON IS A BILLION A YEAR PROFIT-MAKER FROM RATEPAYERS. BELOW IS A GREAT LETTER TO THE COMMISSION. I can't copy it so go to the site. The public meetings will be coming in mid-January.
25 - Maryland Public Service CommissionFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat5) BGE now demands rate increases to pay for the $81 MILLION DOLLARS the company says it incurred in paying for clean up costs. Such a rate increase is ...webapp.psc.state.md.us
THIS COMMISSION GAVE ITS APPROVAL FOR A MERGER OF BGE WITH EXELON WITH ALL KINDS OF 'PROTECTIONS' FOR THE CONSUMER........INCLUDING GUARDS AGAINST RATE HIKES.........WELL HERE ARE THE RATE HIKES. CALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION AND TELL THEM TO STOP THIS HIKE!
BGE will seek distribution rate increase Utility plans to submit case to state regulators this year
By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun 9:52 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2012
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. plans to ask Maryland regulators later this year to allow it to raise rates for the distribution of electricity and natural gas, Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the utility's new owner, said Thursday.
Exelon executives told stock analysts during a meeting in New York that BGE had delayed filing the rate case while BGE's former parent company, Constellation Energy Group, finalized a merger with Exelon. The $7.9 billion deal, which created the largest nonutility energy provider in the United States, closed in March.
"Through the merger, we've held off on filing a rate case, and we will be filing our next rate case in the second half of 2012," said Denis O'Brien, a senior executive vice president of Exelon and CEO of Exelon Utilities, during the meeting. He did not elaborate.
If approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, the state's public utility regulator, new rates would take effect no more than 210 days after the filing, the company said.
BGE's request will include "recovery of among other things, investments focused on electric and gas reliability, tree and vegetation management and other projects to continue to provide safe and reliable service to our customers," said Robert L. Gould, a BGE spokesman. "Parts of BGE's electric and gas system, much of which was built in the 1950s and 1960s, are approaching the end of their useful life and require new investments to ensure continued reliability."
Distribution charges, which cover delivery of power and gas to customers' homes, typically make up between a quarter and a third of a customer's bill.
"I'm not surprised they are going to come in for a rate case so soon after the merger, but I'm pretty disappointed," said Paula M. Carmody, the People's Counsel in the Office of People's Counsel, which represents rate payers. While the company presented the plans for a rate case as an indication of its commitment to a successful merger, "I don't think customers are going to consider an increase in their rate to be a sign of a successful merger."
The last BGE distribution rate hike took effect in December 2010, when residential customers were expected to pay, on average, an additional $16 on electric bills and $10 on gas bills a year. At the time, BGE said the increases would raise an estimated $30.9 million for electric distribution, as well as $9.75 million for gas delivery. The utility said those increases were needed to pay for system improvements at a time when power prices were falling.
The state's other two utilities, Pepco and Delmarva, are seeking increases in distribution rates. Both cases, filed in December, are pending before the Public Service Commission.
Exelon Utilities, which serves a combined 6.6 million electric customers and 1.1 million gas customers, is working to standardize equipment and systems and install "smart meters" in all service areas, O'Brien said. The company plans to invest about $690 million in BGE transmission projects through 2016.
Also Thursday, a company offical told the analysts that Exelon expects to have an agreement by August to sell three former Constellation coal plants that it agreed to relinquish under terms of the merger. They include the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner plants in Anne Arundel County and the C.P. Crane plant in Baltimore County.
The company started marketing the plants after the merger closed and is now reviewing bidders, said Bill Von Hoene, Exelon's chief strategy officer and a senior executive vice president. It expects the plants will be sold as a package, he said.
During the presentation, Exelon officials offered no new information on how the planned 600 job cuts would affect workers in Maryland as the company eliminates overlapping functions through next summer.
To win state regulators' approval of the merger, Exelon agreed that there would be no layoffs at BGE for at least two years after the merger closed. Still, that leaves hundreds of former Constellation employees vulnerable.
Over time, Exelon expects its employment to increase in Baltimore and in the state, said Exelon spokesman Paul Adams. Exelon is building a new headquarters tower in Harbor East that will house its commercial and renewable development businesses, seen as the growth engine for the new company. But Exelon's corporate headquarters remains in Chicago.
"We expect that positions could be eliminated across the entire corporation, but not all in any one location or company," Adams said
WE SEE A PATTERN IN BALTIMORE OF INTIMIDATING ANYBODY WHO ACTIVELY PROTESTS THE DEVELOPMENT THAT MARGINALIZES MOST PEOPLE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS WHO PEACEFULLY FIGHT FOR JOBS AND JUSTICE RECEIVE UNUSUAL AND HARSH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS....IT IS MEANT TO SILENCE PEOPLE.
THIS IS NOT WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!!!
SHOUT OUT FOR MR. MAC ARTHUR AND FOLLOW HIS CASE. TELL CITY STATE'S ATTORNEY BERNSTEIN AND YOUR INCUMBENTS TO STOP THE INJUSTICE
Saturday, December 1, 2012 FREEDOM UNDER FIRE -- I WILL DIE FREE!!!
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Baltimore crime comes in many forms.
When government tramples over the rights of it's citizens, and the media stands by and look, it is difficult to decide who has committed the greater crime.
When civil rights are willfully violated by the government, particularly by law enforcement -- charged with protecting and serving us -- there can be few crimes with a greater victim to society.
As bad, or perhaps worse than a government trampling over the rights of it's citizens, is a press that sits by and does nothing but look on while this happens. Not only is this morally reprehensible, but it defies the very purpose of a free press in a free society.
Purpose Of The Press
For the press is not needed to entertain. There's nothing wrong with diversions, but this should never become the primary purpose of our press.
When football and baseball scores, TV and movie reviews start to dominate more space, and gain ever higher placement and prominence on your news sites, know that freedom everywhere is under fire. The smoke is rising but you're being told to look the other way.
The protections guaranteed us by law are routinely disregarded by our government. Sadly, these things were prophesied in the Bible, long, long ago. Some have studied the holy scriptures and are well aware of this. The vast majority of Americans are completely clueless.
We cannot entirely place blame on the common man for not knowing. After all, he's been conditioned all his life to rely on the press to keep him informed and aware. To make sure he's knows what is important. To warn him of looming disaster and threats.
So when the common man fails to see the danger ahead, proceeds blindly onward and is slaughtered, who then can we blame for this?
It is highly doubtful that any of these words written here today will effect much change in the manner in which mainstream media operates. I have absolutely no hope of witnessing such a miracle.
We Are Already At War
What I do have hope for, is that others will pick up the torch where I drop it. If the standard I've marched forward into battle bearing were to fall, I would hope that 10 brave souls would rush forward to pick it up.
In our age, much of the battles will be fought as an information war. A war to capture your mind, to divert your attention. To keep you from focusing on things that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
We now face issues that are a serious threat not only to our way of life, that we've all come to enjoy and take for granted, but also to our very existence as a free country.
To many, these words may sound strange. To many, they may seem odd. Still others will quickly dismiss it as nonsense.
But to the chosen ones. To those tasked by God to do a great work. These words should serve to ignite the fire within. To wake up souls. Open your eyes wide. Lift your head up to the sky. Seek the protection of the Almighty and march on!
Anyone Can Be Erased
Later today, for the first time ever, I will take to the airwaves to relate my story, of being held in custody for 40 days in Baltimore correctional facilities. There were no charges. There was no warrant. Not even bail. When friends and family, including Maryland State Del. Jill P. Carter -- a defense attorney -- made official inquiry to the correctional facilities, they were all soundly told, I was not there. Even popular talk host and former State Senator Larry Young could not locate me through official channels.
As if that wasn't scary enough, that an innocent man, who's committed no crime could be held so long without anyone knowing. I had friends working inside the jail. Covertly I was allowed to see the internal inmate database. Indeed, through various searches using a multitude of matrices, with my own eyes I saw, there was no one even matching my description, anywhere to be found.
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NKJV
There Will Be Casualties
What happened to James MacArthur was not only detestable, but should be seen as a serious threat to the peace, safety and liberty of any and all Americans. For if it happened to one, it can certainly happen to all. You could be next.
It was the great American Martin Luther King, who said; "injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere."
Another great American once said give "me liberty or give me death."
These are the words I now live by, in what's left of my relatively short, troubled life. I choose to be among the company of the courageous, and not among cowards.
I've lived a life that's been troubled, not because of drugs or alcohol, because I shun those substances. Not because of lack of opportunity or criminal wrong doing. No! My life has been a life troubled, simply because as one who decided long ago, to always go boldly forward with the truth. At times I found myself standing out front, facing the enemy, all alone.
The Future Belongs To The Brave
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 NKJV
Looking to my left, no one there. Look to my right, everyone took flight. A check to the rear, there was no one there.
While the everyday citizen is rarely in a position to make much impact by being a truth teller. The power and value of standing boldly on principle should never be dismissed. For what is done by one, is often copied by others.
Through word of mouth, person to person, and via the the near magical powers of the internet, words spoken by one mere man, even a common man, could be the media equivalent of one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
Though some should meet disastrous fate, as in the case of mine. This should not serve as discouragement. For in war, even wars that were won, the winning side often suffers serious casualty as a result of fighting the good fight.
Your media may have failed you. Your press may have passed on, deciding not to alert you of the dangers that lay ahead. But James MacArthur has not. James MacArthur is not afraid. Not afraid of anything on this Earth. Not any man, beast or powers that be.
It is true I desire to live a long life, free of troubles and stress, to one day have grandchildren bouncing on my lap, but I am not so naive to think this is guaranteed to any man.
A man by the name of Douglas MacArthur-- you may have heard of him -- once said; “there is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.”
I intend to make the most of the moments allowed me on this Earth. To seize upon every opportunity given me by the grace of God. While I am not perfect, as is no man. I intend to do all in my power, to not only live the kind of life God would have me live in my personal walk. But to carry on with confidence and bravery in doing his work.
Remember, a crime is a crime, no matter who, or what entity commits it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently busy at work building an all day news, talk and information radio network, all while managing to elude evil people out for his neck, A.F. James MacArthur has become the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
BALTIMORE HAS ONE OF THE WORST HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS IN THE COUNTRY. LABOR AND WAGES, POLICE BRUTALITY/WEALTH INEQUITY/REGRESSIVE REVENUE COLLECTION ALL WORK AGAINST THE LOWER/MIDDLE CLASS. WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE SAME INCUMBENTS ARE VOTED INTO OFFICE OVER AND AGAIN.
START ORGANIZING AND FIND PEOPLE TO RUN AND VOTE FOR LABOR/JUSTICE CANDIDATES NEXT ELECTION.
Human Rights Dialogue MDPublic
By Luis Larin, Todd Cherkis and Sergio España
- Saturday, January 19, 2013
- 10:30am until 3:00pm
- Join the United Workers, Healthcare is a Human Right - Maryland, Public Justice Center, Legal Aid and the Baltimore Algebra Project for our Human Rights Dialogue. We are coming together because we recognize that our communities are in crisis. We are experiencing systemic human rights abuses in every sector -- work, housing, health, education, the environment. The fight to address these big problems requires the building of a large social movement. And that is exactly what is happening, with Healthcare is a Human Right - Maryland off to an inspiring statewide start, and the fight for Fair Development in Baltimore empowering communities throughout the city. And yet, part of building our movements depends on studying the lessons of past struggles which is why our Human Rights Dialogue will include a study of Dr. King's Poor People's Campaign of 1968 and the transformation from Civil to Human Rights.
Dr. King's call for a freedom church of the poor to be a new and unsettling force in our complacent national life raises up critical contradictions that require examination and action -- people going through bankruptcy because they got sick, workers working two jobs to make ends meet, homeless families living on the street next to abandoned homes, students demanding an education in a system that doesn't provide basics like books and lab equipment.
In addition to the reflection on the Poor People's Campaign we will be breaking into two groups -- one focused on Fair Development and the struggle for human rights standards for publicly supported development; and another focused on the next steps in the Healthcare is a Human Right Maryland Campaign -- preparing for county wide community conversations to empower our communities and share this important statewide story!
Join us in helping shape the next steps of our campaigns!
___________________________________________________
IN MARYLAND, GOVERNOR O'MALLEY HANDED THE CITIZENS OVER TO A NATIONAL ENERGY CORPORATION. HE SAID---PUBLIC UTILITIES DO NOT GIVE SHAREHOLDER VALUE.....WE NEED RATEPAYERS MAXIMIZING PROFITS! SO, THIS MONTH WE WILL YET AGAIN GO TO AND WRITE THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TELLING THEM THE RATEPAYERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRIVATE CORPORATION'S OPERATIONAL COSTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. EXELON IS A BILLION A YEAR PROFIT-MAKER FROM RATEPAYERS. BELOW IS A GREAT LETTER TO THE COMMISSION. I can't copy it so go to the site. The public meetings will be coming in mid-January.
25 - Maryland Public Service CommissionFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat5) BGE now demands rate increases to pay for the $81 MILLION DOLLARS the company says it incurred in paying for clean up costs. Such a rate increase is ...webapp.psc.state.md.us
THIS COMMISSION GAVE ITS APPROVAL FOR A MERGER OF BGE WITH EXELON WITH ALL KINDS OF 'PROTECTIONS' FOR THE CONSUMER........INCLUDING GUARDS AGAINST RATE HIKES.........WELL HERE ARE THE RATE HIKES. CALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION AND TELL THEM TO STOP THIS HIKE!
BGE will seek distribution rate increase Utility plans to submit case to state regulators this year
By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun 9:52 p.m. EDT, June 7, 2012
Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. plans to ask Maryland regulators later this year to allow it to raise rates for the distribution of electricity and natural gas, Chicago-based Exelon Corp., the utility's new owner, said Thursday.
Exelon executives told stock analysts during a meeting in New York that BGE had delayed filing the rate case while BGE's former parent company, Constellation Energy Group, finalized a merger with Exelon. The $7.9 billion deal, which created the largest nonutility energy provider in the United States, closed in March.
"Through the merger, we've held off on filing a rate case, and we will be filing our next rate case in the second half of 2012," said Denis O'Brien, a senior executive vice president of Exelon and CEO of Exelon Utilities, during the meeting. He did not elaborate.
If approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, the state's public utility regulator, new rates would take effect no more than 210 days after the filing, the company said.
BGE's request will include "recovery of among other things, investments focused on electric and gas reliability, tree and vegetation management and other projects to continue to provide safe and reliable service to our customers," said Robert L. Gould, a BGE spokesman. "Parts of BGE's electric and gas system, much of which was built in the 1950s and 1960s, are approaching the end of their useful life and require new investments to ensure continued reliability."
Distribution charges, which cover delivery of power and gas to customers' homes, typically make up between a quarter and a third of a customer's bill.
"I'm not surprised they are going to come in for a rate case so soon after the merger, but I'm pretty disappointed," said Paula M. Carmody, the People's Counsel in the Office of People's Counsel, which represents rate payers. While the company presented the plans for a rate case as an indication of its commitment to a successful merger, "I don't think customers are going to consider an increase in their rate to be a sign of a successful merger."
The last BGE distribution rate hike took effect in December 2010, when residential customers were expected to pay, on average, an additional $16 on electric bills and $10 on gas bills a year. At the time, BGE said the increases would raise an estimated $30.9 million for electric distribution, as well as $9.75 million for gas delivery. The utility said those increases were needed to pay for system improvements at a time when power prices were falling.
The state's other two utilities, Pepco and Delmarva, are seeking increases in distribution rates. Both cases, filed in December, are pending before the Public Service Commission.
Exelon Utilities, which serves a combined 6.6 million electric customers and 1.1 million gas customers, is working to standardize equipment and systems and install "smart meters" in all service areas, O'Brien said. The company plans to invest about $690 million in BGE transmission projects through 2016.
Also Thursday, a company offical told the analysts that Exelon expects to have an agreement by August to sell three former Constellation coal plants that it agreed to relinquish under terms of the merger. They include the Brandon Shores and H.A. Wagner plants in Anne Arundel County and the C.P. Crane plant in Baltimore County.
The company started marketing the plants after the merger closed and is now reviewing bidders, said Bill Von Hoene, Exelon's chief strategy officer and a senior executive vice president. It expects the plants will be sold as a package, he said.
During the presentation, Exelon officials offered no new information on how the planned 600 job cuts would affect workers in Maryland as the company eliminates overlapping functions through next summer.
To win state regulators' approval of the merger, Exelon agreed that there would be no layoffs at BGE for at least two years after the merger closed. Still, that leaves hundreds of former Constellation employees vulnerable.
Over time, Exelon expects its employment to increase in Baltimore and in the state, said Exelon spokesman Paul Adams. Exelon is building a new headquarters tower in Harbor East that will house its commercial and renewable development businesses, seen as the growth engine for the new company. But Exelon's corporate headquarters remains in Chicago.
"We expect that positions could be eliminated across the entire corporation, but not all in any one location or company," Adams said
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