Electricity

State energy regulators have fined a Connecticut electricity supplier $100,000 after finding that it engaged in deceptive marketing practices, the Maryland Public Service Commission announced Friday. The commission also ordered North American Power and Gas to undertake a series of measures, including suspending all telemarketing activities in Maryland, to retain its license. The commission, responding to a complaint filed by its staff, held a hearing and concluded that NAP's advertisements contained four deceptive statements, such as there is "no contract to sign"; that NAP falsely stated that its terms and conditions were approved by state regulators; and that NAP failed to provide a "complete and accurate" price description in its terms and conditions, as well as the required PSC's toll-free number and Web address for complaints.

Electricity was shut off Wednesday evening to outlets in McKeldin Square that protesters have used for the past month to power computers, televisions and kitchen appliances. Safety concerns were the primary reason that power was cut off, said Ian Brennan, a spokesman for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who has said she will address violations on the plaza while the protest continues on a case-by-case basis. Inspectors surveyed the area and determined that the large number of items being powered from each outlet created fire hazards, he said.

Yet again, the aftermath of a storm has left large segments of the public disgusted with a slow restoration of power. We saw this following Hurricane Isabel a few years ago and after the February blizzards and severe thunderstorms last year. The time it has taken to restore power has led to calls for fines and penalties on the utilities that provide the wires, poles, transformers and substations that bring us electricity. Under these circumstances, you might think the silliest thing we could do would be to promise these utilities the same profits regardless of how much electricity they deliver.

The state of Maryland this spring announced that one of its public agencies would save up to $15 million a year on its electricity bill as a result of buying cheaper electricity in the competitive market.Gov. Martin O'Malley was rightfully ecstatic, proclaiming that "the state is leveraging its electricity buying power to provide a much needed measure of price stability and protection." Maryland taxpayers should be heartened by the governor's pronouncement. States across the country are facing significant budget challenges, so any opportunity to save taxpayer money and buy cheaper electricity should be welcomed.

It's going up - way up, beginning this summer, by something like 40 percent to 80 percent. There's no way around it. That stems from state electricity deregulation legislation enacted in 1999. You likely didn't pay close attention then, but that bill actually froze Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.'s rates at their 1993 level less 6.5 percent - until this July. Pretty good deal. But now it's time to pay the piper - just as the costs of oil, coal and gas, which fuel electricity production, have soared.

ACROSS THE NATION, electric-industry restructuring has emerged as a complicated and highly charged issue. Two efforts under way in Maryland will have enormous impact on energy consumers and our state.This week the Maryland Public Service Commission began public hearings on how to regulate the state's electric utility industry to allow customers to choose their electricity supplier. At the same time, a 20-member task force is to identify the potential benefits and impacts of electric-industry restructuring and make recommendations to the legislature.

BGE customers fretting about soaring electric rates finally have a number of choices. There are now at least five alternatives to BGE's off-the-shelf electricity product. All of them are cheaper. Here is a rundown. All rates are in kilowatt-hours and include electric-generation and transmission charges but not the 3-cent charge for distribution over BGE's wires. WASHINGTON GAS ENERGY SERVICES Rates through June 2007: 10.72 cents summer; 10.21 cents nonsummer. Estimated monthly savings: $12 summer; $3 nonsummer.

Three days after a storm dumped up to 2 feet of snow in areas of the state, utility crews were finishing up the repair yesterday of downed lines and the restoration of electricity to homes. As of 6 p.m. yesterday, 387 Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers in the Baltimore metropolitan area were without power because of the storm, most in Anne Arundel County. Those outages were expected to be fixed by late last night, according to BGE spokeswoman Linda Foy. Anne Arundel County closed its 60-bed temporary shelter for those without power because of a lack of demand.

Of course Mayo Shattuck would rather get paid for thinking about luxury boxes and cheerleaders and TV revenues than electricity futures. Of course he wants to be National Football League commissioner. Of course Baltimore frets about what that might mean for BGE parent Constellation Energy, which Shattuck runs. But it's the wrong thing to worry about. Partly because he probably won't get the job. Partly because it would make little difference to Constellation's future, even if he did. But mainly because there are bigger factors in Baltimore's energy future than whether Shattuck gets to hand out the Lombardi trophy.

MIAMI -- In a few lucky corners of South Florida, air conditioners hummed alive and the lights flicked on again yesterday. But in most of the region, it was another day of tedium and anxiety for the millions still without electricity. Phones remained largely inoperable, and working gas stations were few. Around Miami-Dade County, there were seeds of optimism, as parts of neighborhoods from Coral Gables to Aventura regained electricity. But progress was slower in Broward County, where 97 percent of customers who lost power remained in the dark through yesterday afternoon.