Constellation Energy and BGE, hold on they aren’t done!

Let’s not even get into the discussion about how Martin O’Malley abandoned us after the democrats froze electric increases for 4 years, and then deregulated energy companies. Suffice to say, neither action worked and in the mean-time Constellation Energy purchased BGE. In their effort to make the maximum on the return, they redirected energy at Calvert Cliffs (our only nuclear power plant) to business customers in other states. We are paying approx. .10 cents per kilowatt-hour for residential electricity, while energy from Calvert Cliffs costs about .04 cents a kilowatt-hour. It seems funny how Constellation is now suing us (residential customers) for profits that have been lost do to the price freeze of the past. Not only that expense, but they want to divide the costs for dismantling the same power plant in about 10 years, and charge residential customers even though we don’t receive electricity from that plant. Is our government really stupid enough that when they wrote the contract for Calvert Cliffs they didn’t demand that a certain percentage had to be used for Maryland? That was a rhetorical question…….
Ok let’s flash up to today, now faced with a 100% increase rather then the 50% increase that Constellation had promised, I get a letter from them stating that….”we have replaced your meter (Westinghouse Model D3) because they were under registering usage.” Where is our state regulatory commission now? Why wasn’t the increase held to the 50% they advertised for AT LEAST a year? My bill is now 100% more then it was this time last year, and they send me a letter stating that my meter was under-registering? I have called the Department of Agriculture’s weights and measurements division to inquire as to find out if they come out to do electric meter calibration. The woman who answered the phone told me that ….”we don’t do that, because it isn’t a commercial business”. If it’s not a commercial business then what exactly is it? This is THE largest commercial business that uses an electric metering device that hasn’t been certified. Gasoline, scales, meters that charge for a specific amount are all regulated by the Dept. of Agriculture. Although they denied responsibility of certification of said devices the MD. Code says otherwise. I quote…..on the Department of Agriculture site they have a page entitled Frequently Asked Questions, questions 10 and 11 ask;

Q. I am opening a business and need to know what, if any, weights and measures regulations will affect me? A. Most businesses are to some degree affected by weights and measures laws. This will vary on the type of business. In general if you will be using any type of weighing and measuring device (scale, gas pump, meter) you will be directly affected. If you will be packaging commodities you will need to know packaging and labeling, and net quantity requirements.
Q. What is a weighing and measuring device? A. This is a term that we use to describe equipment or devices such as scales, gas pumps, or meters that weigh or measure commodities in the course of trade or business.
More importantly in the MD code where they refer to the inspections, testing, general duties, and definitions the following is said;


§ 11-101. Definitions.

(l) Weight and measure- “Weight and measure” means any instrument or device used for weighing or measuring, and any appliance or accessory associated with any instrument or device used for weighing or measuring.
§ 11-202. General powers and duties of the Secretary
(3) Supervise the weights and measures offered for sale, sold, or used in the State; and

§ 11-204. Inspections and testing generally
(1) The weight, measurement, or count of any commodity sold, or offered or exposed for sale, on the basis of weight, measure, or count;
(2) Any charge or payment for services rendered on the basis of weight, measure, or count
(3) Weight, measurement, or count when a charge is being made for the determination


As a result of this research, I would ask you to copy the attached letter to push the State of Maryland to at least accept some responsibility in not only the spiraling cost of electricity, but to enforce the laws that they wrote concerning the management of measuring devices (aka electric meters), and to offer some sort of accountability as to the creditability of the BGE meters. Alone we have no power but together, we have a voice. Copy and send to

richarrl@mda.state.md.us


Roger L. Richardson, Secretary Dept of Agriculture State of Maryland
I received a letter today from BGE about how they had to replace my electric meter because ….”A sampling of Westinghouse Model D3 electric meters were under-registering usage.” This is a clear statement as to the inaccuracy of the said meter. After receiving this letter I researched your website and found the following statements on your “Frequently asked questions” page
Q. I am opening a business and need to know what, if any, weights and measures regulations will affect me? A. Most businesses are to some degree affected by weights and measures laws. This will vary on the type of business. In general if you will be using any type of weighing and measuring device (scale, gas pump, meter) you will be directly affected. If you will be packaging commodities you will need to know packaging and labeling, and net quantity requirements.
Q. What is a weighing and measuring device? A. This is a term that we use to describe equipment or devices such as scales, gas pumps, or meters that weigh or measure commodities in the course of trade or business.

Although those statements had been made, after calling your office to have you certify my electric meter, the woman who answered the phone told me that you don’t have any way to check the meters, and besides it had to be a commercial sale. Well BGE is the largest retailers of power in the state of Maryland, and as far as I know they are a commercial operation. I researched the MD code referring to the inspections, duties of the Secretary, and general definitions, to find the following:


§ 11-101. Definitions.

(l) Weight and measure- “Weight and measure” means any instrument or device used for weighing or measuring, and any appliance or accessory associated with any instrument or device used for weighing or measuring.
§ 11-202. General powers and duties of the Secretary
(3) Supervise the weights and measures offered for sale, sold, or used in the State; and

§ 11-204. Inspections and testing generally
(1)The weight, measurement, or count of any commodity sold, or offered or exposed for sale, on the basis of weight, measure, or count;
(2)Any charge or payment for services rendered on the basis of weight, measure, or count
(3)Weight, measurement, or count when a charge is being made for the determination

Just because BGE sells an item that can’t be held in your hand doesn’t mean it can’t be measured. If BGE can buy meters to check usage and the accuracy of the home units, it means the department of weights and measures can also. Having BGE check the accuracy of my meter is somewhat akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house. I don’t ask that you supply this service for free, but Marylanders deserve the avenue to have an unbiased office from the state to monitor the accuracy of the very units that are used to charge us a rapidly increasing monthly amount. Please notify me as to when the testing will be available and what the charges would be.

I await your thoughtful reply,


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