Baltimore City Council Holds Hearing on Rising Utility Bills, BGE Declines to Attend

City leaders demand answers from Baltimore Gas and Electric about skyrocketing winter bills, but the utility refuses to participate in the hearing.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:23am

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The Baltimore City Council held a hearing to examine the reasons behind the dramatic increase in utility costs for residents this winter, with many families struggling to keep up with rising gas and electricity bills. However, the hearing went forward without the participation of Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) leadership, as the utility declined the council's invitation to attend and answer questions directly from lawmakers and customers.

Why it matters

The rising utility costs have forced many Baltimore residents to make difficult choices about which bills to pay, highlighting the financial strain on families in the city. The council's hearing aimed to hold BGE accountable and explore potential changes to protect ratepayers, but the utility's absence has raised concerns about transparency and the company's responsiveness to customer needs.

The details

The city council, led by Council President Zeke Cohen, called the hearing to question BGE about the factors driving higher gas bills this winter. However, BGE said the hearing was too narrowly focused on the utility and did not include other major influences on energy costs, such as regulators and regional energy operators. As a result, the company chose not to participate, with a spokesman describing the hearing as "political theater" that would not help customers or further the broader conversation about controlling energy costs.

  • The city council hearing was held on Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Zeke Cohen

The Baltimore City Council President who called the hearing to examine the reasons behind the dramatic increase in utility costs for residents.

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)

The utility company that serves the Baltimore region and was the focus of the city council's hearing, but declined to attend and participate.

Nick Alexopulos

A spokesman for BGE who criticized the city council's hearing as "political theater" that would not help customers or further the broader conversation about controlling energy costs.

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What they’re saying

“The Baltimore City Council is going to continue to fight on behalf of residents who live here against these monopolistic utility companies out of control.”

— Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City Council President (wbal.com)

“Because this hearing is narrow, repetitive and reductive, we chose not to participate. It is political theater on the part of the city council president. It's not going to help our customers, and it's not going to further the conversation that Maryland needs to have about bringing energy costs under control.”

— Nick Alexopulos, Spokesman for BGE (wbal.com)

What’s next

The Baltimore City Council has vowed to continue pushing for lower utility costs and holding BGE accountable, despite the utility's refusal to participate in the recent hearing.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between Baltimore residents struggling with rising utility bills and the utility companies that serve them. The city council's inability to directly engage with BGE leadership raises concerns about transparency and the company's responsiveness to customer needs, underscoring the need for greater oversight and consumer protections in the energy sector.