🧵 Maryland Wire | November 2025
Affordability Crisis: Bill Ferguson’s Quiet War on Maryland Families
As Governor Wes Moore prepares for reelection, his most formidable opponent isn’t the Republican Party—it’s the affordability crisis engineered by Senate President Bill Ferguson and the policy legacy of Paul Pinsky. While Moore campaigns on progress, Ferguson’s fingerprints are all over the economic pain Marylanders feel every month when they open their utility bills.
🔥 Senate Bill 1: Ferguson’s Power Play
In 2023, Ferguson introduced Senate Bill 1, a move that signaled his personal ownership of the legislation. SB1 dismantled Maryland’s residential energy choice, forcing families back into monopoly contracts with utilities like BG&E. The bill was marketed as consumer protection—but in reality, it gave utilities the freedom to raise rates with minimal oversight.
📈 Rate Hikes: The Real Cost of Monopoly Power
Following SB1, BG&E secured a multi-year rate increase:
- Electric bills rose by $4.08/month in 2024, with smaller increases projected through 2026.
- Gas bills jumped by $10.43/month in 2024, tapering slightly in later years.
Some households report doubling bills, especially in older buildings or high-usage homes. The affordability crisis isn’t theoretical—it’s hitting real families.
🌱 Pinsky’s Climate Vision: Idealism Without Infrastructure
Former Senator Paul Pinsky, now removed from Governor Moore’s cabinet, pushed aggressive climate legislation that retired fossil fuel plants without a viable replacement strategy. His agenda included electrifying the state fleet and cutting emissions by 60% by 2031—but failed to account for grid reliability or affordability.
⚡ Grid Shrinks, Demand Grows
As fossil fuel plants went offline, Maryland’s energy supply shrank. Meanwhile, demand surged—driven by electric vehicles, state fleet conversions, and population growth. Ferguson’s SB1 gave utilities the green light to raise rates just as the grid was under pressure.
🧨 Political Fallout: Moore vs. Ferguson
Governor Moore may be the face of Maryland’s future, but Ferguson is the architect of its affordability crisis. Pinsky’s removal was quiet. Ferguson’s accountability has been nonexistent. If Moore wants to win reelection, he’ll need to confront the real opposition: a Senate leadership that’s hurting Maryland families.
📎 Footnotes
1. SB1 ends retail energy choice, consolidates power under BG&E
2. BG&E rate increases approved by Maryland PSC
3. Pinsky’s Climate Solutions Now Act and fossil fuel retirements