Baltimore residents sue BGE over alleged gas shutoff threats

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Baltimore Gas and Electric class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: A group of Baltimore residents filed a class action lawsuit against Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE). 
• Why: BGE is accused of illegally threatening to shut off gas service to Baltimore City residents who decline to have an external gas regulator installed at their home. 
• Where: Baltimore, Maryland.

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is illegally threatening to shut off gas service to Baltimore City residents who decline to have an external gas regulator installed at their home, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

A group of Baltimore residents argue BGE — which is currently installing thousands of external gas regulators throughout the city — is not doing the installations for safety reasons, but rather to increase their profits, reports Fox Baltimore. 

“BGE is not on your side,” said Thiru Vignarajah, an attorney for the residents, in a statement. “They are doing what they’ve always done — protecting and profiting off the backs of customers in Baltimore City.”

BGE has maintained that it is installing the external gas regulators to improve the safety of its gas infrastructure and increase the speed with which it can deliver gas around the city, reports Fox Baltimore. 

The company reportedly said it has been in communication with Baltimore residents — who have asked for an emergency hearing — since May 2022 about its construction plans and timelines.

BGE previously wrote position statement appearing to disapprove of installing external regulators, says class action

Baltimore residents have highlighted a February 2020 position statement from BGE in regard to legislation that was being considered following a deadly 2016 gas explosion at a Silver Spring apartment complex, reports Fox Baltimore. 

In its position statement, BGE reportedly wrote that it was in a “unique situation” given that its service area in Baltimore City that it argued “do not often provide for appropriate open outside space to allow for outside meter or regulator installations.” 

Further, BGE argued that it would have to take into account federal and local laws preventing the utility from “locating equipment on public rights of way, in historic locations, or in conflict with the American Disabilities Act Standards,” reports Fox Baltimore. 

BGE, in a response to a question by Fox Baltimore on why its opinion on external regulators appeared to have changed, said it was in support of the bill and was only recommending it be modified. 

Baltimore and its mayor, Brandon M. Scott, filed a class action lawsuit against a number of cigarette makers last year over claims their decision to manufacture cigarette butts that are non-biodegradable has caused a public nuisance.

Are you in support of external regulators? Let us know in the comments! 

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