Pepco customers in Maryland will now pay more for electric service, but not as much as the utility had wanted.
The state Public Service Commission approved a rate increase that will cost the average customer $2.41 a month and generate about $28 million for Pepco. That's less than half the amount requested by Pepco.
The new rates take effect immediately.
This was the third rate hike request in four years.
Maryland's Office of People's Counsel was pleased the PSC rejected the full rate hike request, but Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner was not.
“I know that Montgomery County ratepayers share my disappointment in this decision,” he said. “Our county argued that Pepco should, at best, only receive a 1/10th of what they asked for, not slightly less than half."