Proposed new BGE rate would increase average customer monthly bills by $31 after three years

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. filed a request Friday with state regulators to increase the rate it charges customers for delivery of both gas and electricity over the next three years by an average of 5% a year. The requested rate increase, if approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, would boost the average customers’ monthly bill by about $31.07 after three years to support spending by the Baltimore-based utility. The rates would take effect Jan. 1. For the utility, which serves 1.3 million electric customers and 700,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, the filing is the first step in a monthslong public review process requiring commission approval. The commission can approve, reject or, as it often does, scale back BGE’s planned increase.