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Pepco defends response to massive power outages
Pepco is defending its response to the deadly outbreak of thunderstorms last month that left hundreds of thousands of Baltimore-Washington area customers without electricity for several sweltering days. The Washington Post reports that the utility said in a report that it “mobilized quickly, calling on both internal and external resources” to restore power to homes […]
O’Malley orders study of electric distribution
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has ordered a study to find ways of improving the state’s electric distribution system. O’Malley issued an executive order on Wednesday to pool the resources of state agencies to gather input and recommendations to strengthen the state’s utility infrastructure. The governor has directed his energy advisor, Abigail Hopper, to [&hel[...]
Lower electricity costs don’t mean lower rates
NEW YORK — A plunge in the price of natural gas has made it cheaper for utilities to produce electricity. But the savings aren’t translating to lower rates for customers. Instead, U.S. electricity prices are going up. Electricity prices are forecast to rise slightly this summer. But any increase is noteworthy because natural gas, which […]
Ground broken for solar project at Md. prison
HAGERSTOWN — Construction of one of Maryland’s largest solar energy projects has begun at a state prison complex near Hagerstown. Gov. Martin O’Malley joined a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for the 20-megawatt array of solar panels on 160 acres of state-owned land near the Maryland Correctional Institution. Officials say the 100,000 photovoltaic panels will be capable […]
PSC to keep the heat on Maryland utilities
Maryland’s power companies are restoring electricity more promptly than they expected to, said Maryland Public Service Commission Chairman Douglas R.M. Nazarian, almost a week after an unexpected storm put more than 1 million people in the dark.
Many Americans have throwback Fourth without power
MOUNT VERNON, Va. — George Washington never had air conditioning, but he knew how to keep cool: a mansion with lots of windows elevated on the banks of a wide, rolling river and lots of ice cream, maybe with a little brandy. It was a little like the old days without electricity Wednesday, as the […]
Solar panels planned at Fort Detrick
FREDERICK — Army officials say they hope to reduce Fort Detrick’s reliance on the electrical grid by installing solar panels on an undeveloped part of the installation in Frederick. The Frederick News-Post reported Thursday that Detrick is among four posts involved in a renewable power plan announced last week by an Army task force. Detrick […]
The bell tolls for coal as natural gas booms
America is shoveling coal to the sidelines. The fuel that powered the U.S. from the industrial revolution into the iPhone era is being pushed aside as utilities switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives. The share of U.S. electricity that comes from coal is forecast to fall below 40 percent for the year — the lowest […]
Maryland PSC to hear Potomac Edison billing complaint
FREDERICK — The Maryland Public Service Commission says it will hear a complaint that Potomac Edison is overbilling some western Maryland electricity customers by failing to read their meters as often as required. The Frederick News-Post reported Thursday that the regulatory board has tentatively scheduled a hearing for June 20. The complaint was filed May […]
Maryland firm chosen by D.C. groups pooling to buy power
WASHINGTON — A Maryland company has been chosen by more than 100 religious, community, labor and low-income housing groups in the Washington area that are joining forces to save money on electricity. The groups met Tuesday and announced that they had selected Rockville-based Clean Currents, which had also won the previous contract. The purchase was […]
D.C. groups pool buying power to save on electricity
Some pray in churches, mosques and synagogues. Others aren’t religious, serving the community by providing housing or education. However, the leaders of more than 100 religious and community organizations in the Washington area share one interest: saving money on electricity to better serve their communities. That’s why they will gather Tuesday to review bids they […]
Electric plants shift from coal to natural gas
PITTSBURGH — The huge, belching smokestacks of electric power plants have long symbolized air pollution woes. But a shift is under way: More and more electric plants around the nation are being fueled by natural gas, which is far cleaner than coal, the traditional fuel. The most optimistic projections describe an abundant domestic energy source […]
