July 24, 2023

Frederick H. Hoover
Chair
Public Service Commission of Maryland
6 St. Paul Street, #1600
Baltimore, MD 21202

Dear Chairman Hoover:

Congratulations on recently becoming the Chair of Maryland’s Public Service Commission

(PSC). We look forward to working with you for the duration of your term in the pursuit of
ensuring the reliability of Maryland’s utility system and the protection of its ratepayers.

As the 46th Legislative District Delegation, we have been actively engaged with
stakeholders including the PSC, BGE, Office of People’s Counsel, and numerous community
associations regarding BGE’s installation of external gas regulators for over two years. Residents
have raised legitimate concerns regarding the safety of the external placement of these regulators,
as well as the inconsistent aesthetic with homes in historic districts.

As members of the Maryland General Assembly, we are keenly aware of our areas of
expertise, and the engineering required for the safe delivery of natural gas to consumers is not one.
Thus, we have relied and continue to rely on the neutral analysis of the PSC’s Engineering
Division, which has consistently assured us that the external placement of regulators is industry
best practice and encouraged for gas lines being upgraded to higher pressure delivery. It was this
analysis and advice from the PSC's experts that we have conveyed to our constituents repeatedly
as they have experienced continual frustration with this natural gas infrastructure upgrade program.

While we are perplexed that it has taken over two years to get to the point of formal
administrative review, we are pleased that the PSC is finally adjudicating consumer complaints in
a hearing on August 15. This hearing will provide residents an opportunity to share their concerns
on the record and in the context of consumer protection. We hope it will be quickly followed by
an impartial and well-reasoned decision by the Commission based on the independent research of
the PSC’s experts, not solely those of BGE. The uncertainty that has existed over these last two
years on the balance between safety and aesthetics can only be resolved by the PSC's regulatory
process. Ultimately, our constituents deserve clarity from the State-level regulatory body
responsible for overseeing our utilities, as well as from BGE, the company that delivers their
energy.
 To that end, we also request that the PSC investigate whether BGE has upheld its
commitment to consistent and accurate information to the customers it serves. Recent claims,
including the use of “aggressive tactics” to achieve consent for the installation of external gas
regulators while the temporary restraining order is in place, are particularly concerning. We hope
that the PSC will take appropriate adjudicatory action should there be a finding that BGE’s
communications practices fell short of its obligations to consumers, or if there is veracity to the
aforementioned claims.

Sincerely,

William C. Ferguson IV Robbyn Lewis Luke Clippinger Mark Edelson

Senate President Delegate, District 46 Delegate, District 46 Delegate, District 46