Mad at BGE? How to complain to regulators
The Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates Baltimore Gas & Electric, said it received "less than one dozen calls" on Friday related to BGE's Peak Rewards program, which shut off 72,000 household's air conditioners for most of one of the hottest days in memory. "Additional complaints were received over the weekend that are being reviewed," the PSC said.
As readers of The Sun know, the shortage of complaints received by the PSC hardly means customers are thrilled with Peak Rewards. Perhaps one reason is the difficulty for people to communicate with the commission online. There seems to be no general PSC email address. There is place on the Web site to "file a complaint." But this seems to be a service for resolving bilateral disputes between utilities and customers, not a place to opine on general regulatory policy and BGE conduct.
Reader Ren has a good suggestion:
It has been noted that the commission has received only a "handful" of complaints. Does that mean that they won't count all those who wrote directly to you or The Sun?Can you let us all know an email to use that will get more than that handful of thoughts to them?
Terry Romine is the Maryland Public Service Commission's executive secretary, the recipient of all official correspondence. Her email: tromine@psc.state.md.us. Or you can call the PSC: (410) 767-8000.
UPDATE: PSC spokeswoman Regina Davis suggests calling PSC external relations at 888-309-7325. And she says to go ahead and use the formal complaint system for comments on Peak Rewards.
Comments
THANK YOU JAY !!!!!!
I simply love how the PSC makes it so easy for ratepayers to contact them with their comments, concerns and complaints... *note sarcasm*
And thank you for being the proverbial town crier on the fustercluck BGE created on Friday.
Seriously, when I found that the opt-out tab on the Peak Rewards website had vanished, I did a basic web search and YOUR BLOG was the FIRST and ONLY (for quite some time) to blow the whistle on what was happening in real time.
THANK YOU.
Posted by: Jason | July 26, 2011 11:01 AM
THANK YOU JAY !!!!!!
I simply love how the PSC makes it so easy for ratepayers to contact them with their comments, concerns and complaints... *note sarcasm*
And thank you for being the proverbial town crier on the fustercluck BGE created on Friday.
Seriously, when I found that the opt-out tab on the Peak Rewards website had vanished, I did a basic web search and YOUR BLOG was the FIRST and ONLY (for quite some time) to blow the whistle on what was happening in real time.
THANK YOU.
Posted by: Jason | July 26, 2011 11:01 AM
Jay,
Do you think the grid would be at less risk to blackouts if enough homes had solar panels? It would seem a palatable alternative in light of the Peak Rewards fiasco.
Posted by: Mr. Freeze | July 26, 2011 11:06 AM
The problem with peak rewards is faulty advertising. BGE uses the term "cycling" and instead had compressors locked off completely.
The program would work if A/C units were turned off and back on over brief periods spread over thousands of homes (and businesses?).
BGE should either more accurately describe the program or run the program the way they describe it.
A mismangaged MD taxpayer subsidized program where the real winner is ... BGE.
Posted by: Dan | July 26, 2011 11:59 AM
"the reports are that there have only been a few complaints."
If one files a complaint; the recipient is out of the office until aug 1 from the 22nd the day of the event
interesting?
Posted by: george linhardt | July 26, 2011 1:34 PM
Agreed on the misrepresentation of the program. I e-mailed tromine, but the e-mail bounced. Stupid spam detection I suppose.
I have no interest in a formal complaint since they were technically permitted to do what they did even if the program was misrepresented.
However, 9 hour outtages with temperatures upstairs over 110 and temperatures downstairs in high 90s (and humid) is completely unacceptable.
I too would have been fine with a few hours without AC as they rolled through the grid, and temperatures perhaps in the mid to high 80s.
Posted by: nemo | July 26, 2011 4:50 PM
If you guys have a problem with peak rewards here is the way to solve the problem and wash your hands of it.
Step 1. Add up the number of years you have been enrolled in the program. You should be coming up with a total Discount BGE has taken off you bill.
Step 2 Pull out your checkbook and return the total from step 1 to bge.
Step 3 get a non peak rewards thermostat.
Step 4 sit back and enjoy your air condition and enjoying the fact that you are smarter than BGE.
Step 5 Next time this happens enjoy your rolling Blackouts IE NO POWER AT ALL.
You all need to get your heads examined. BGE is paying you for the ability to in an emergency situation turn your air condition off. End discussion stop crying.
Posted by: Johnny Thrift | July 26, 2011 6:47 PM
When you are enrolled in Peak Rewards you will be cycled supposedly based on your enrollment. Cycled means your AC compressor will be shut off by BGE via radio signals to your thermostat. But if you are in enrolled in 75% should they not make the compressor run for 15 minutes every hour?
We were cycled twice last Friday for a total of 7 hours 45 minutes STRAIGHT. What happened to the 15 minutes/hour that our compressor was supposed to be running?
Posted by: al | July 28, 2011 8:42 AM
@al: in the same boat. I too am at the 75% level, but they had my A/C completely shut off for 9 hours straight. There was no "cycling" at all. It was 89 degrees in my house.
Posted by: Nathalie | July 28, 2011 3:49 PM
What happened to me is that they tuned me off and left for the weekend. No AC for Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon. They do not have an number that you can get thru to anyone if they make a mistake and your unit does not get the signal to turn back on again for the entire weekend.
No one to help you no technicians to trouble shoot your system or their equipment.. They are gone and you are out of luck getting any AC.
They should have tech's 24 hours for problems or at least telephone service for emergencys. So, they turn your system off and you are elderly and need some AC and cannot get anyone to respond?
They need support 24-7 with this "cycling program".
Actually, it is not "Cycling" it is turning you off until they get good and ready to turn you back on. And, Hey, if your system does not work after that, it is your problem, not theirs. The cost of having a Heating and AC person come out and check out your system because of their problems negates any savings.
I also wonder how much damage the Cycling on and off from their remote control does to your compressor and if it will eventually kill your compressor so you need a new unit. Of course you can but a new one from BGE Home. Maybe that is their plan.
Posted by: Anita | July 28, 2011 7:52 PM