New Rates

One newspaper ad was headlined, "The simple truth about the July 1 rate increase." In another set to run this week, Constellation Energy Group takes on what it calls "election-year politics." For months, the parent of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. has responded in measured tones, publicly at least, while Maryland lawmakers, consumer groups and BGE's customers have accused it of making windfall profits with a proposed 72 percent electricity rate increase. This month, however, after a Baltimore circuit judge affirmed Mayor Martin O'Malley's suit to block BGE from publicizing its rate increase plan - and O'Malley cheered it as a victory "for working families" - Constellation executives said they had heard enough.

A new information box will accompany this Sunday's review of Family Meal, Bryan Volaggio's new Frederick restaurant. At a glance, you'll be able to see, along with the information we've always provided about hours of operation, prices and location, some additional context that readers have been encouraging us to provide. We are now including notes about parking and reservations as well as, when applicable, about dietary considerations and accommodations for children. We'll also let you know about the noise level.

The Annapolis Police Department will promote 10 officers to the rank of corporal this week, just five months after a court ordered it to adopt a strictly merit-based promotion system.Earlier this year, the department announced promotions for 10 officers -- half of whom were minorities -- to integrate its all-white, all-male corporal ranks. But the department rescinded those promotions after a group of officers ranked higher on an eligibility list sued the city. An Anne Arundel Circuit judge ruled in their favor and ordered the department to base its ranking system on merit only.

The SAT score of the average U.S. high school student will soon be going up 100 points. But that doesn't mean that anyone is getting smarter.Beginning in April 1995, the College Board, based in Manhattan, will be recalibrating its scoring of the SAT. The bottom score will still be 200 and the top 800, but it will be easier for everyone to get higher scores.A 430 score on the verbal section of the SAT will suddenly become a 510 under the new scoring method. A 730 verbal score will become an 800.lTCCollege Board officials know they are opening themselves up to criticism.

The Manchester water torture is over.After months of discussion, the Manchester Town Council approved new water and sewer rates last night by a 4-0 vote.Within the town limits, Manchester water users will pay a quarterly charge of $9.60, plus $1.74 per 1,000 gallons of water used.For sewer service, residents within the town limits will pay a quarterly charge of $12, plus $5.25 per 1,000 gallons of water used.The council also adopted the recommendation of the disbanded ad hoc committee on water and sewers to eliminate the old block rate structure and its 5,000-gallon minimum per quarter.

Thousands of laborers, electricians and carpenters who work on construction and repair contracts awarded by Baltimore could get pay increases averaging 1 percent under a recommendation by the city's Wage Commission.The commission's recommendation, based on its annual survey of the prevailing wages paid by public and private employers in Baltimore to several categories of workers, covers all city construction and renovation contracts in excess of $5,000. The new wage rates are expected to be approved by the Board of Estimates today, and would take effect for contracts awarded after Dec. 30.Also today, the board has agreed to adopt a resolution boosting the minimum wage for low-paid janitorial and cafeteria workers employed by city contractors to $6.10 an hour beginning in July.

Annapolis aldermen will cut the city property tax rate tonight. The only question is, by how much?Last month, Mayor Alfred A. Hopkins proposed a $39.6 million operating budget to the city council that cut the tax rate by 4 cents. Earlier this month, the council's finance committee suggested shaving another penny from the tax rate of $1.78 per $100 of assessed value. And last week, Alderman Wayne C. Turner was touting a plan to cut the rate by an additional 2 cents, for a total of 7 cents.

When news broke that parking rates in Baltimore are being raised to help plug a hole in the city's coffers, some motorists took it in stride, perhaps resigned to the premise that the only certainties in life are death and higher taxes. Other people are, to put it mildly, irritated, especially at the provision that calls for a doubling of the hourly metered rate in some neighborhoods, to $2. "I don't want to put $2 on my credit card," Mark Ericksen, a 25-year-old violinist, said Sunday in Mount Vernon, referring to the amount he will be required to pay into ticket dispensers on city sidewalks.

Baltimore Gas and Electric's standard electricity price from June through May 2013 is expected to decrease customer bills by $54 on average for the year-long period, state energy regulators announced Monday. The Maryland Public Service Commission last week accepted bids from BGE and other utilities in the state to supply electricity to residential and commercial customers. On the residential side, utilities purchase electricity from wholesale suppliers under a twice-yearly competitive bidding process, which is overseen by the PSC. BGE residential customers can buy BGE's standard utility service or purchase electricity from third-party suppliers.

Changes in the Carroll Transit System, which serves as the county's public transportation, should mean more stops, longer service hours, more flexible routes and cheaper fares for most riders, Executive Director Linda Boyer said Monday.Carroll Transit, a non-profit agency, contracts with county government to provide low-cost bus and van transportation.The announced changes are:* The Shoppers Shuttle is adding 2 1/2 hours of operation and more stops to its schedule. The new stops will include Washington Heights Medical Center, CrossroadsSquare and apartment complexes on Pennsylvania Avenue.