Charges Dropped Against Protestors of BGE Gas Regulator Installations

Charges have been dropped against three Baltimore city residents who were arrested while protesting Baltimore Gas and Electric’s (BGE) installation of external gas regulators. Claudia Towles, Maggie Fitzsimmons, and Sandra Seward were charged with interfering with a public utility, trespassing, and refusal to leave after standing in the way of BGE workers outside a home in Federal Hill. The women were trying to prevent BGE from shutting off gas to five homes without proper notice.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced that the charges against the women would be dismissed through the city’s citation docket program, after they completed community service. Bates stated that the women had already faced sufficient consequences during their 19 hours in central booking and that it was time to move forward with dismissal.

BGE has been relocating interior regulators as part of a project to replace aging natural gas pipes and equipment in Baltimore. The company argues that the external regulators are safer and offer easier access during emergencies. However, residents from various communities, including Fells Point, Federal Hill, and West Baltimore, have expressed concerns about the appearance and safety of the new equipment.

On June 23, a class-action lawsuit was filed by community members aiming to stop BGE from forcing residents to accept what they consider to be obtrusive and unsafe equipment. A Baltimore judge has ordered a halt to installations without consent until September 5.

In response to the controversy, several members of the Baltimore City Council have announced their intention to introduce legislation that would ban outdoor regulators from single family homes. This move is a direct result of the protests and concerns raised by residents.