Adam Meister Calls For Baltimore To Suspend Energy Taxes To Ease Burden Of Rate Hikes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Allison Winnike
Allison@AdamMeister.com

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE CALLS FOR BALTIMORE TO SUSPEND ENERGY TAXES TO EASE BURDEN OF RATE HIKES
Meister also says City Council members should promise to no longer take campaign contributions from energy-related entities

Baltimore, Md., June 20 – Adam Meister, Democratic candidate for Baltimore City Council in the 11th District, today outlined his ideas for lessening the blow of the recent energy rate hikes. “By immediately abolishing Baltimore’s energy tax for residential gas and electric customers, the mayor and City Council have the power to reduce the pain caused by energy rate hikes,” declared Meister.

“Additionally, the notorious Baltimore City Telecommunications Tax surcharge for cell phones should be eliminated. In due course, there must also be a full investigation into Baltimore’s haphazard water billing procedures, which could result in smaller bills for residents,” said Meister, who has been recognized for running an innovative, idea-driven campaign.

Other candidates may talk in generalities, but Adam Meister has actually laid out a concrete plan for easing the financial burden currently being endured by Baltimore families.

Meister continued, “To ensure that the elimination of the above taxes does not cause a major revenue shortfall and to make it harder for energy companies to cut off power to Baltimore residents, I propose that Baltimore requires all energy companies to issue a three day “power cut-off notice” with the City at the cost of $50, while simultaneously posting this “power cut-off notice” on the doors of residents’ homes. Just as landlords must file a notice and pay a fee to the city when they wish to evict a tenant, so too should multi-billion dollar energy companies have to file notice with customers and pay the city a fee.”

Adam Meister has unparalleled experience actually interacting with residents in the streets of Baltimore, not just in his own neighborhood of Reservoir Hill, but throughout the 11th District. His “man of the people” approach is not an election-season act, but a reflection of his true character – so much so that today he also urged all City Council members to promise to no longer take campaign contributions from energy-related entities. “City Council should lead by example and stop favoring powerful entities like BGE, Mercy Hospital, and UB over the interests of Baltimore residents.”

“Ultimately,” said Meister, “the only way to ensure a complete rollback of rate hikes is to re-regulate the energy sector and the mayor and City Council should put pressure on our state legislators to do just that.”

###