Potomac Edison

Customers of Potomac Edison Co., about 9,000 of whom live in western Carroll County, recently received an increase in their electrical rates. If the Maryland Public Service Commission agrees, two more increases will take effect, in February and April.The latest requests would raise the average residential customer's monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours by $1.03, to $69.73, said Cyndi Shoop, Potomac Edison spokeswoman.All requested increases would be to the company's fuel rate, a separate fee charged customers to help pay for running generators, most of which use coal, she said.

Health officials seek dog that bit boy, 13The Carroll County Health Department is looking for a dog that bit a 13-year-old boy Thursday evening at Westminster High School.Health officials said the boy was doing in-line skating near the concession stand at the football field when the dog nipped him on the leg. Thinking it was nothing to worry about, the boy went on without checking the bite.When the teen-ager got home and his mother looked at the bite, the family realized the dog had broken the skin.

HAGERSTOWN -- The Maryland Public Service Commission has approved a request from Potomac Edison Co. to increase an anti-pollution surcharge on customers' bills by $2.2 million.The higher rate applies to electric service provided on and after Dec. 3. Residential customers will see bills rise about 46 cents a month, the utility said.The surcharge reflects the cost of complying with the Clean Air Act of 1990, specifically financing construction of equipment intended to reduce by 90 percent the sulfur dioxide emissions from the company's Harrison power station near Shinnston, W.Va.

CUMBERLAND -- More than 5,000 customers in Allegany and Garrett counties remained without power yesterday as a result of a severe storm that came through Western Maryland Tuesday night, a spokesman for Potomac Edison said.The storm, with winds measured up to 75 mph, knocked down power lines, trees and caused damage to numerous businesses and homes in the area.After the storm, about 10,000 customers were without power, said John Hollis, Potomac Edison spokesman. He said power was restored to about half of those customers yesterday, with most of the remainder to be back on line today.

Potomac Edison is asking the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to reinstitute a surcharge paying for the electric company's energy conservation program.If approved, the charge would raise the monthly bill for an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatts of energy by 1 percent, or 66 cents, said Potomac Edison spokeswoman Cyndi Shoop. An average residential bill would increase from $69.47 to $70.13 per month, she said.Increases for business and industrial customers would be 3.5 percent each month, Ms. Shoop said.

While cities and towns across the country are trying to find ways to cut services, five Maryland communities qualify for endangered-species designation -- they still operate their own power companies.Large public utilities have gobbled up nearly all the small municipal power companies that used to provide electricity independently. But Easton and Berlin on the Eastern Shore and Hagerstown, Thurmont and Williamsport in Western Maryland all provide electricity for their residents.Easton and Berlin still generate their own power.

A 50-year-old balloonist crashed into residential power lines in Lisbon Sunday night, disrupting electrical power to 300 residents for about two hours.The balloonist, Ronald Broderick, of the 12400 block of Banard Way in West Friendship, was uninjured during the solo flight.But about 300 Potomac Edison Power customers lost power for two hours, said Kenneth Powell, a Potomac Edison spokesman.The power outage began about 7 p.m. Sunday when Mr. Broderick's balloon struck the power lines as he attempted to land.

Carroll County fire and emergency crews were kept busy when a storm spawning high winds hit the area about 8 p.m. Thursday night.More than 1,200 customers of Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. and Potomac Edison Co. lost electrical service for one to four hours, company spokesmen said.John Metzger of BG&E said 1,144 customers were affected by the storm, and 14 transformers and 11 protective devices had to be replaced. Fewer than 100 Potomac Edison customers lost service.Emergency calls ranging from tree fires in Gamber, Westminster and Manchester to burning wires in Pleasant Valley, Taneytown and Mount Airy caused much of the county's fire equipment to remain on call throughout the evening.

Monocacy Bancshares Inc. has declared a dividend of 8 cents per share, payable Oct. 25 to stockholders of record Oct. 11.This dividend is an increase of 33 percent and is a reflection of Monocacy's strong financial performance in 1994 as well as its strong capital position, said Frank W. Neubauer, president and chief executive officer.The company also has started a dividend reinvestment plan, which allows stockholders to use dividends and voluntary cash to purchase Monocacy shares. Company officials believe this will allow the company to increase its capital base, combined with future growth plans.

Route 75 awaits streetlights, sidewalksUnion Bridge will be getting streetlights along Route 75 to Myers Super Thrift Market sometime this year, Councilwoman Bonnie M. Hyde said.The town also is looking into the construction of sidewalks along Route 75 so patrons can get to the market without walking in the street.Potomac Edison will charge the town $2,170 for the lights, which will extend along the road next to the market. The original estimate was $500 higher because Potomac Edison wanted to hire professionals to control traffic.