Ehrlich's energy plan veto defeated

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ANNAPOLIS -- State lawmakers voted yesterday to overturn Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s veto of the Democrats' energy plan that will postpone a 72 percent rate increase by Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. but forces customers to pay interest on the deferred charges.

The company's 1.1 million residential customers will see their bills increase 15 percent on July 1 -- not the 72 percent increase to market rates set earlier this year in a wholesale electricity auction overseen by the utility-regulating Public Service Commission.

However, the money customers save will still be owed to the company, and the customers will have to repay it and about $109 million in interest over 10 years.

Mr. Ehrlich, a Republican seeking re-election this fall, said he vetoed the bill because it forces the debt and interest payments on customers.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. said the average monthly interest and debt payment of $2.19 would be canceled out by the elimination of some current fees and by future rate savings.

"There is no interest," Mr. Miller, a Prince George's County Democrat, said after the veto override passed his chamber without debate. "You can't legally say that [in the bill] because it would be an unconstitutional taking under law."

Senate Minority Whip Andrew P. Harris told the Associated Pressthat Senate Republicans chose not to debate the bill because they knew Democrats had the votes to override the governor.

"There are numerous parts of this bill that are faulty," said Mr. Harris, Baltimore County Republican. "We're not here to work and solve a problem. We're here for political reasons."

Ehrlich spokesman Henry P. Fawell said Democrats overrode the veto to enact a "incumbent protection plan" for lawmakers that does little more than forestall the massive rate increase until after this year's elections.

"The governor believes the legislature put the energy companies ahead of the consumers," he said. "Citizens of Maryland do not want to be forced by the government to take out a 10-year loan against their will."