By: Ben Mook

Power company Pepco and its performance, or lack thereof, were the topics of discussion once again Wednesday, this time at a hearing held by the  House Economic Matters Committee.

The company is under fire from multiple sides over its response to power outages in Montgomery County since last year. On Wednesday, the committee had a hearing on HB110, known by some as the ‘nuclear’ option, which, if passed, could lead to the company’s franchise to operate in Maryland being pulled.

Del. Bill Frick, a Montgomery County Democrat, and 13 other lawmakers introduced the bill in February. At the hearing, Frick reiterated the need to force Pepco out.

“What HB110 does is, what our neighbors wish they could do — it takes our business elsewhere,” Frick said.

He said Pepco customers were stuck and unable to switch to another company. He told the commission it was time to bring in another company that could do the job.

After he testified, questions from the committee were light, and Pepco and its allies did not speak to the bill.

For it’s part, the PSC said it had “no position” on the bill. But a spokeswoman said the PSC was undertaking its own investigation of Pepco.