BG&E Submits an Amended Smart Grid Proposal to Maryland PSC

Baltimore Gas & Electric has resubmitted its Smart Grid metering proposal that was rejected three weeks ago by Maryland regulators. The original proposal had consumers taking on most of the initial costs of the project. According to the Baltimore Sun, the amended proposal submitted to the Maryland Public Service Commission Monday afternoon still seeks to pass startup and upgrade costs on to ratepayers, but the bulk of those would come through regular rate increase requests to the PSC rather than an upfront surcharge for the full amount. BG&E is also said to be asking for voluntary time-of-use (TOU) rates rather than making mandatory as the original proposal did. Utility officials are seeking a quick decision by regulators to avoid the potential loss of $200 miliion in federal stimulus money awarded the project.

Quick Take: Good for BG&E ... Maybe this will mute some of the wild speculation that the PSC order was a rejection of all things Smart Grid and would bring progress to a halt. The fact that the utility was able to return with an amended proposal that addresses the regulators' primary concerns quickly suggests the flaws weren't so serious. And stay tuned: It'll will be interesting to see what this same commission does with the Pepco filings which are also in front of them.