The most recent two U.S. presidents have had to get used to having their likeness slapped onto gas pumps via "I did that!" stickers, when their policy decisions have led to rising gas prices. Less eager to take credit for exploding electricity bills is Pepco, which is once again taking pains to inform customers that government is indeed the problem. "Higher energy bills can be challenging, and we want you to understand what's driving those changes," the Exelon-owned utility explained in a message to ratepayers with this month's bill. And explain they do, but not as extensively as they should, requiring us to employ the Annapolis Anger Translator (AAT) for full disclosure.
First culprit on the list is the regional grid operator PJM. Pepco notes that PJM "is increasing electricity supply prices for our area. Pepco does not generate electricity or set these prices — we pass these charges through directly to customers with no markup. These increases are due to factors such as higher demand and tight energy supply."
Using the AAT, we can expand on this to learn that the actual electricity rates paid by consumers in Maryland are set by the Maryland Public Service Commission, a body appointed by...whoops!...the governor of Maryland, and approved by the Democratic-controlled Maryland State Senate.
Why is there a "tight energy supply?" Perhaps because Maryland elected officials forced the closure of 8 power plants across the state. As a result, Maryland itself can no longer generate enough power to supply the demands of residents and businesses, and is now forced to import electricity from out-of-state at inflated boardwalk prices.
Pepco also highlights the EmPOWER MD surcharge that appears on your monthly bill. Like many other "sneak taxes," elected officials hope that you will assume these taxes, fees, and surcharges are being levied by the service provider, not your corrupt leaders. The reality is that this surcharge was levied by the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis. It is a Karl Marxian Communist initiative of the highest order. Your hard-earned money goes into a slush fund used to pay for "green" upgrades to poor people's homes. From each according to his abilities...well, you get the idea.
Not mentioned is the latest hoax: data centers, the latest pass-the-buck punching bag for politicians trying to divert public attention from their direct role in the affordability crisis. No, data centers in Maryland are not the reason your Pepco bill keeps going up. It's a boogeyman far more familiar to you: your unfriendly neighborhood elected official. The call is indeed coming from inside the house.
13 comments:
That’s why I keep hearing those Pepco ads on WMAL which are carefully scripted to say “don’t blame us”, but they don’t go to the point with specific language where they directly lay blame on MD leadership for the situation.
Everything is distilled down to the cost(s) of the care, feeding, and feelings of one or two small 'groups d' jour..' Unfortunately the 'd' jour' part stretches into decades.
Like Germany decommissioning their nuclear power plants and wondering why they pay the highest electricity rates in Europe, the people running MD are literally pushing the state into a energy dependency that results in some of the highest rates in the US. Meanwhile, adding more bikes lanes, 10B dollar PL and banning gas leaf blowers is the answer.
You could have fooled me.
Why in the world Do You Need A Dozen VPs!
https://www.pepco.com/about-us/leadership-values
We're going to be like Austin TX went it snowed that time and are going to suffer greatly...
Also, lane starving, speed humps and flex poles to tease the snow removal crews.
Show your math regarding how much all of their salaries increase the total price of electricity. (Hint: You'll find that It is less than 0.03 CENTS per KWh). Envy isn't a reasonable argument.
Ahh yes, corporations, known to be the hallmarks of integrity and fairness, are telling us not to blame them. How convenient.
"It is a Karl Marxian Communist initiative of the highest order. Your hard-earned money goes into a slush fund used to pay for "green" upgrades to poor people's homes." God forbid we use our taxes to do something good for our lower income neighbors. How terrible!
And your last paragraph about data centers is just... well it's completely wrong, really. Data centers are absolutely causing power and water bills to skyrocket for residents all over the country. To say otherwise is false. They're consuming massive amounts of digital memory - so much so that Micron (who makes Crucial memory) announced this past December that they will be exiting the consumer space to sell only to AI companies. This will drive up the cost of ALL electronic devices. All this for a crappy money-hemorrhaging AI industry that is only good for generating mediocre images and videos and fielding botnets on Facebook.
Just look at what Kevin O'Leary is trying to do in Utah. His 40,000 acre facility would consume more power than the rest of the state uses annually. Even in a smaller data center, a few racks of GPU's can require power equivalent to FIVE single family homes. And you don't think that those costs will be passed onto the taxpayer? Please.
Source - have worked in Data Centers for years, including managing a whole center itself
You left out his sidekick Friedrich Engels.
*when
11:09 Corporations vs. the Gubmint! I see what page you're really on. How convenient.
Are you a spokesperson for PEPCO?
@ 10:39 AM I have been requesting PEPCO to trim a tree whose branches are intertwined with the power lines and are blocking a streetlight to no avail.
With the money they are paying those armchair executives they can hire a lot more useful workers. . .
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