Prince George's Councilmember Seeks State Probe of Soaring Electric Bills, Offers $500

Edward Burroughs III introduced a county resolution asking the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel to investigate why Pepco customers and other residents received unexpectedly large electric bills after recent winter storms, and immediately launched Phase II of his District 8 Senior Support Fund to send a $500 one-time payment to eligible District 8 seniors.

The resolution, filed at a Prince George’s County Council meeting, asks the state consumer-advocate office to examine utility company pricing and to take action on customer complaints about sudden increases. Accounts differ on whether the council meeting occurred on Tuesday or Thursday, but all agree Burroughs introduced the measure at the meeting and announced the senior relief program afterward. “We're asking for transparency. We're asking whether or not these increases are justified. For so many residents, we can't fathom that these rates could be justified,” Burroughs said.

Phase II of the District 8 Senior Support Fund targets seniors in District 8 specifically and will award a $500 one-time grant to help pay electric bills. Applications are open through March 29, approved payments will be processed on May 1, and funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, with seniors urged to apply as soon as possible. Burroughs launched the fund after its initial debut last July; the program has reportedly helped more than 2,000 District 8 seniors with property tax relief, utility assistance, rent and mortgage support, and lawn care.

The spike in bills has been sharp in some neighborhoods. Oxon Hill resident Patricia Monroe said, “My electric has gone up 75%.” Monroe added accounts of deeper hardship in the community: “I know somebody who stopped taking blood pressure medicine because they couldn't afford it anymore. That's dangerous. So now you're looking at the effects on people's health when they can't afford to pay for heat, buy their groceries and pay for their medication. So, it has a huge effect.” Other residents in Monroe’s neighborhood reported increases close to $1,000.

Pepco has attributed much of the jump to brutally cold temperatures and heavy usage during a major snow and ice storm, and said customers used about 70% more energy in January than they did in November. A Pepco representative warned of broader strain on the transmission system, saying, “We are seeing the demand due to large energy usage, primarily data centers, causing a lot of strain on the grid.”

At the state level, Governor Wes Moore has acknowledged more work is needed to lower energy costs and fortify the grid. “We have not done enough to really fortify the grid to get more energy options,” Moore said, and noted the state provided $200 million in rebates last year. Moore will testify before the State Senate on behalf of the Lower Bills and Local Power Act, legislation that would require utilities to prioritize advanced transmission and grid-enhancing technologies when expanding capacity.

The resolution now asks the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel to decide whether to open a formal probe and to act on customer complaints; Burroughs is continuing the District 8 relief effort while state-level action on the Lower Bills and Local Power Act proceeds.