BGE customers, who are now only used to seeing their bills go up, will get a chance to see their bill go down next month -- by $170.

This is a one-time settlement reached at the end of the last General Assembly. It was settled to resolved years of litigation.

The seemingly ever-increasing rates has struck BGE customers hard -- 15,000 customers have had their power turned off between January and June.

Those fortunate enough to have a bill that is less than $170 will see the credit continued to be applied until it is used up.

Budget billing customers will receive the discount a little differently, but will still receive the $170 discount, spread over months beginning in September until the entire discount is applied.

Source: "BGE ratepayers get $170 discount" [The Capital, August 15, 2008]