Dive Summary:

• The Maryland Pubic Service Commission (MPSC) may prohibit the state’s utility companies from charging customers a small service fee during the first 24 hours of a major power outage.
• The state’s major companies have been permitted to charge their customers the fee since a 2007 when a ruling was reached to compensate the utilities for money they might lose because of programs aimed at reducing energy consumption.
• MPSC Commissioner W. Kevin Hughes said the any fee is “like pouring salt in [customers’] wounds;” a decision is expected soon.

From the article:

The Maryland Public Service Commission may prohibit the state's utility companies from charging customers a small service fee during the first day of a major power outage.

"It's like pouring salt in their wounds. … It may be 50 cents, but in a household budget every penny counts," Commissioner W. Kevin Hughes told representatives of Maryland's energy distribution companies during a hearing Monday afternoon. ...