In an exclusive interview with BMORENews.com publisher Doni Glover, BGE President and CEO Tamla Olivier addresses rising electricity bills, Maryland’s dependence on neighboring states, data center development, workforce opportunities, and the importance of Black women claiming their seats at the table.
(BALTIMORE – October 17, 2026) — At the STEM CITY USA studios in the Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center, BMORENews.com publisher Doni Glover sat down with Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) President and CEO Tamla Olivier for a conversation that began with Baltimore’s famous crab cakes and quickly turned to one of the most pressing economic issues facing Maryland: the cost and future of electricity.
Olivier, who returned to BGE’s leadership about a year ago, spoke candidly about rising utility bills, the state’s dependence on electricity generated elsewhere, and the economic opportunities tied to artificial intelligence and data centers.
She also discussed workforce development, education, and the importance of preparing young Black women for leadership.
But one statement captured the central challenge.
“Maryland is a taker, not a maker.”
Olivier was referring to Maryland’s dependence on electricity generated in neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
For Glover, whose journalism and Black Wall Street initiatives have consistently emphasized entrepreneurship, ownership, and economic self-determination, the observation raised a fundamental question.
How can Maryland expect to control its economic future if it doesn’t produce enough electricity to power it?
The conversation was particularly timely. Maryland residents are facing rising electricity costs as BGE seeks another rate increase, while policymakers debate whether the state should embrace energy-intensive data centers as a major economic development opportunity.
Understanding Maryland’s rising electricity costs: BGE CEO Tamla Olivier estimates that electricity supply accounts for approximately 63% of a customer’s bill, while delivery and other charges make up the remainder. Meanwhile, regional power capacity prices have risen sharply, putting further pressure on electricity costs. The graphics explain how these separate costs affect Maryland ratepayers. Source: BGE CEO Tamla Olivier and PJM Interconnection.
Beyond rising electricity costs, Maryland consumers face a series of financial decisions about utility profits, proposed rate increases, and the expansion of energy-intensive industries. These seven figures help explain what is at stake.
By the Numbers: Maryland’s Electricity Debate
| Issue | Key figures |
|---|---|
| Regional PJM capacity prices | $28.92/MW-day (2024–25); $269.92 (2025–26); $329.17 (2026–27) |
| BGE zone capacity prices | $466.35/MW-day (2025–26); $329.17 (2026–27) |
| BGE’s 2026 rate request | $156.1 million in additional electric distribution revenue |
| Estimated residential impact | Approximately $8 more per month for the average customer, according to BGE’s application |
| BGE’s requested return on equity | 10.4%, compared with the previously approved 9.5% |
| Office of People’s Counsel recommendation | Reduce distribution revenue by $43.9 million and set return on equity at 7.3% |
| Data center transmission dispute | Approximately $2 billion in disputed cost allocations, with an estimated $1.6 billion impact on Maryland bills over 10 years |
Sources: PJM auction report, Maryland Public Service Commission, Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, and OPC’s federal transmission complaint.
The CEO Everybody Gets a Bill From
Olivier occupies a position that few corporate executives would envy.
She leads a company that provides an essential service to approximately 1.36 million electric customers and more than 700,000 natural gas customers across Baltimore and Central Maryland.
BGE, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, is Maryland’s largest electric and natural gas utility.
The company delivers energy to homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, military installations, and other essential institutions.
Olivier expressed pride in that responsibility.
But Glover wanted to address the obvious question.
What is it like to lead the company whose name appears on utility bills that so many Maryland residents are struggling to pay?
Olivier explained that BGE does not generate the electricity it distributes.
Instead, the utility delivers electricity purchased from suppliers through the regional energy market.
She offered an analogy that nearly anyone could understand.
“Kind of consider us like DoorDash. We just bring it to your door.”
The comparison was memorable.
It was also an important starting point for understanding Maryland’s electricity bills.
Olivier said electricity supply costs account for approximately 63% of a customer’s bill.
Those supply costs have risen sharply as demand for electricity grows and available generating capacity becomes more expensive.
However, customers also pay BGE for delivering electricity through its distribution infrastructure.
And those delivery charges have become the subject of a major regulatory dispute.
BGE’s Own Delivery Charges Are Under Scrutiny
In July 2026, BGE filed a request with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking an additional $156.1 million in electric distribution revenue.
The company estimates that its proposal would increase the average residential customer’s electric bill by approximately $8 per month.
The request comes after previous increases in BGE’s regulated delivery rates.
According to Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel (OPC), the independent state agency representing residential utility customers, BGE’s proposed increase would raise residential electric distribution rates by approximately 17%.
OPC reports that, if the request is approved, BGE’s electric distribution rates will have increased approximately 58% since 2020 and 129% since Exelon acquired the company in 2012.
Those percentages refer to electric distribution rates, not the entire customer bill.
OPC has urged regulators to reject the proposed $156.1 million increase and instead reduce BGE’s distribution revenue by $43.9 million.
The dispute also involves the company’s requested return on equity, a regulatory measure that determines the return shareholders may earn on approved utility investments.
BGE is requesting a 10.4% return on equity, up from the 9.5% the commission previously approved.
OPC recommends lowering that figure to 7.3%, a change the agency says would save electric customers about $82 million annually, or roughly $110 per customer.
The company’s profitability has also attracted public attention.
According to Exelon’s financial reporting, BGE recorded net income of $578 million in 2025, compared with $527 million in 2024 and $485 million in 2023.
Those figures do not establish that BGE’s proposed rate increase is unjustified. Regulated utilities require substantial infrastructure investment, and net income is not the same as available cash.
They do, however, provide important context for a debate over affordability, shareholder returns, and the financial burden on customers.
BGE maintains that it needs additional revenue to preserve the safety and reliability of its electrical system.
In comments reported by Fox Baltimore, BGE spokesperson Nick Alexopulos characterized the company’s rate request as the minimum necessary to maintain reliable service.
The competing positions leave regulators with a consequential decision.
How much should customers pay for infrastructure improvements, and what level of return should investors receive?
Evidentiary hearings in the rate case, identified as PSC Case No. 9888, are scheduled to begin November 6, 2026. The commission is expected to issue a decision in January 2027.
Until the commission reaches that decision, the existing rates covered by the proceeding remain in effect.
Sources: Maryland PSC rate-case announcement, OPC testimony and recommendations, PSC Case No. 9888, and Fox Baltimore reporting.
From $29 to $329: Understanding the Electricity Market
During the interview, Olivier challenged Glover to guess how dramatically electricity-related costs had increased.
She cited a rise from approximately $29 to $329 per megawatt-day.
The figures refer to prices in the capacity market operated by PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator serving all or parts of 13 states and Washington, D.C.
Capacity payments compensate qualifying resources for being available to meet electricity demand when needed, particularly during periods of peak consumption.
They are different from the prices consumers pay for the electricity they actually use.
PJM’s regional capacity auction price rose from $28.92 per megawatt-day for the 2024–2025 delivery year to $269.92 for 2025–2026, then to $329.17 for 2026–2027.
The Baltimore region experienced an even sharper increase during the middle period.
For the 2025–2026 delivery year, the BGE zone cleared at $466.35 per megawatt-day, substantially higher than the regional price.
The BGE zone subsequently cleared at $329.17 for 2026–2027.
These numbers do not mean that the entire cost of electricity increased tenfold.
They do demonstrate how sharply the market value of available generating capacity has risen.
The increases reflect a regional system confronting growing electricity demand, power plant retirements, and delays in bringing new generating resources online.
Artificial intelligence, data centers, industrial development, and broader electrification are contributing to that pressure.
For Olivier, the numbers illustrate a basic economic reality.
Maryland needs more electricity production.
For Glover, they raised a different question.
Why had the state allowed itself to become so dependent on others?
Source: PJM’s 2026–2027 Base Residual Auction Report.
Maryland’s Dependence on Other States
Olivier estimated that Maryland imports approximately 40% of the electricity it consumes.
Much of that power comes from neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
She argued that Maryland’s decision to move away from traditional fossil-fuel generation was based partly on the expectation that renewable energy resources would expand quickly enough to replace retiring facilities.
In her assessment, that transition has not happened fast enough.
The resulting gap between electricity supply and growing demand has left Maryland increasingly dependent on energy produced elsewhere.
Glover questioned how a state with so much intellectual capital could find itself in such a position.
Maryland is home to Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, major federal research institutions, and some of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers.
Why, he asked, had the state not anticipated its future energy needs?
Olivier acknowledged the importance of greater energy independence.
“We do need to own our energy destiny.”
The discussion also turned to former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and his administration’s support for offshore wind energy.
Glover raised the former governor’s efforts, asking whether O’Malley had been on the right track.
Olivier agreed the vision had merit but argued Maryland failed to follow through quickly enough.
The exchange highlighted a broader challenge for state policymakers.
Maryland must reconcile its clean-energy ambitions with the need for reliable and affordable electricity.
The debate is not simply about choosing fossil fuels or renewable energy.
It is about building sufficient generating capacity, expanding transmission infrastructure, developing energy storage, and ensuring that future demand does not overwhelm the system.
Should Maryland Produce More of Its Own Power?
Olivier pointed to neighboring Virginia as an example of a state operating under a different utility structure.
Virginia allows certain utilities to own generating facilities while state regulators oversee electricity service.
Maryland’s restructured electricity market generally separates generation from the utilities that distribute power.
Olivier said BGE has supported legislative changes that would let utilities participate more in developing generation resources.
Her argument was straightforward: Whether new generation comes from utilities, independent producers, or other entities, Maryland needs additional electricity production.
But the proposal also raises questions about ownership and financial responsibility.
BGE’s parent company, Exelon, earns regulated returns on approved utility investments.
Expanding utility participation in generation could create additional investment opportunities, depending on how Maryland structures its policies.
Consumer advocates and policymakers must therefore consider who would finance new generating facilities, who would bear the risks, and whether the benefits would flow primarily to customers or investors.
For Glover, the discussion returned to a familiar economic principle.
A community or state that depends entirely on others to produce essential resources has less control over its economic future.
The challenge is developing a system that encourages investment without placing unreasonable financial burdens on residents.
Data Centers: Economic Opportunity or Another Burden on Ratepayers?
The conversation grew especially pointed when Glover raised data centers.
These facilities power much of the digital economy, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and large-scale data processing.
They also consume substantial amounts of electricity.
Virginia has become one of the nation’s leading data center markets, attracting billions of dollars in investment.
Pennsylvania is also pursuing opportunities associated with energy-intensive industries and expanded electricity generation.
Maryland, meanwhile, continues to debate how aggressively it should pursue similar development.
Glover questioned whether the state’s cautious approach could leave it at an economic disadvantage.
His concern stemmed from the distinction between ownership and consumption.
If neighboring states produce electricity, attract major technology companies, and build the infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence, Maryland risks becoming increasingly dependent on industries developed elsewhere.
Olivier agreed that energy availability and economic competitiveness are closely connected.
She argued that data centers can generate significant investment, expand the tax base, create jobs, and support infrastructure improvements.
But she emphasized that these projects must be developed under appropriate conditions.
She said large electricity users should be required to help secure the energy supply needed for their operations.
Alternatively, they should agree to reduce electricity consumption during periods of extraordinary grid demand.
Those safeguards could help prevent existing customers from bearing unreasonable costs associated with major new facilities.
The environmental implications also deserve scrutiny.
Glover raised concerns previously discussed by a researcher on his program.
Olivier acknowledged that both sides have arguments in the data center debate.
She maintained that responsible development and enforcement of environmental requirements can address potential risks.
Critics, however, continue to raise questions about emissions from backup generators, water consumption, land use, and the number of permanent jobs these facilities create after construction.
Data centers’ economic benefits are not automatic.
They depend on the specific project, its energy requirements, applicable tax arrangements, and commitments to surrounding communities.
Maryland Customers Could Pay for Data Center Growth Elsewhere
The financial implications of data center expansion are already the subject of a federal regulatory dispute.
In May 2026, Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) challenging how PJM allocates certain electricity transmission costs.
According to OPC, the existing rules could assign Maryland electricity customers approximately $2 billion in transmission costs associated with data center development in other states.
The agency estimates that those allocations could increase Maryland electricity bills by approximately $1.6 billion over ten years.
The figures reflect OPC’s estimates and allegations in a regulatory complaint, not a final FERC determination.
Maryland’s Democratic congressional delegation also urged federal regulators to address the concerns raised by the complaint.
The dispute highlights an important issue for Maryland residents.
Even if a data center is built outside Maryland, the cost of expanding the regional electricity system to serve it may affect customers within the state.
That possibility complicates the argument that Maryland should simply attract more data centers.
The question is whether the financial benefits of development will exceed the costs imposed on residents and businesses.
For Glover, the issue matters most to communities already struggling with high electricity bills and limited economic opportunities.
Maryland should not be forced to subsidize economic development elsewhere while missing opportunities to create jobs and build infrastructure within its own borders.
Sources: Maryland OPC’s FERC complaint announcement and Maryland congressional delegation’s letter.
BGE’s Workforce Collaborative: Preparing Residents for Energy Careers
Beyond energy policy and infrastructure, Olivier highlighted BGE’s efforts to connect Maryland residents with energy-industry employment opportunities.
She reported that more than 500 participants have graduated from the company’s workforce collaborative program.
The initiative works with community organizations to prepare candidates for careers with BGE and its contractor partners.
Opportunities include engineering-related work, welding, gas operations, electrical line work, and other technical occupations.
Olivier also described outreach programs that introduce elementary school students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The goal is to expose young people to industries and career paths they might never consider otherwise.
For Baltimore, where access to stable employment and pathways into the middle class remain critical concerns, these initiatives offer potential benefits.
Technical occupations and skilled trades can provide alternatives to traditional four-year college pathways while creating opportunities for long-term career advancement.
However, the ultimate measure of workforce development is not simply the number of people completing training.
It is how many participants secure employment, what they earn, whether they remain employed, and whether they advance into higher-paying positions.
Those outcomes matter as Maryland considers major investments in electricity generation, data centers, and other technology-related industries.
Economic development must create meaningful opportunities for the communities expected to support it.
Black Women Must Claim Their Seats at the Table
As the interview approached its conclusion, Glover shifted from electricity costs and economic development to a more personal question.
He asked Olivier what advice she would offer his daughter and three granddaughters.
How could he help prepare them to become successful women and leaders?
Olivier’s response began with education, excellence, and high expectations.
She encouraged families to establish a culture of achievement and teach young people to remain focused on their goals.
But her most powerful advice concerned confidence and the willingness to exercise influence.
Olivier described how women and people of color sometimes enter professional settings and instinctively position themselves away from the center of decision-making.
They may choose seats in the back of a room rather than taking available places at the table.
Her message was direct.
“Whatever room we’re in, we deserve to be in that room. Whatever table we’re at, we deserve to be at that table.”
She encouraged young women to recognize their abilities, embrace their voices, and understand that they have earned the right to participate fully in the institutions where decisions are made.
“Owning your brilliance matters.”
Olivier, a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, has built a career that includes senior leadership positions in major corporations.
Her comments reflected the importance of preparation, mentorship, and confidence in navigating professional environments.
Glover expressed his desire to see more Black women serving as corporate executives, elected officials, law enforcement leaders, educators, and decision-makers throughout society.
The exchange also reflected the interview’s broader theme.
Whether discussing electricity generation, economic development, or personal leadership, the central issue was the importance of claiming ownership and exercising power.
The Future of Maryland’s Energy Economy
The conversation with Olivier revealed that Maryland’s electricity challenges extend far beyond the monthly utility bill.
Energy availability influences where companies invest, whether industries expand, and what employment opportunities become available.
The state’s dependence on neighboring jurisdictions raises questions about long-term economic competitiveness.
The expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers creates investment opportunities while raising new concerns about affordability, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
BGE’s pending rate case also raises immediate questions about how much customers should pay to maintain and improve the electrical system.
Olivier argues that Maryland must develop greater control over its energy future.
Glover’s questions challenged the state to consider why it has remained so dependent on others and what must change if Maryland expects to compete.
The answers will require decisions about infrastructure investment, electricity generation, consumer protection, economic development, and ownership.
For Maryland residents already struggling with rising bills, those decisions cannot come soon enough.
For the next generation entering the workforce, these decisions will shape the opportunities available in the years ahead.
And for a state with extraordinary intellectual, scientific, and technological resources, the central question remains:
Will Maryland continue depending on others to power its economy, or will it build the capacity to power more of its own future?
BMORENews.com — THE NEWS BEFORE THE NEWS.
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