SHOULDA’, WOULDA’ and COULDA’ – just politics?
I for one am tired of hearing those three words, this near “mantra” from friends, neighbors and now numerous times from our Town officials, past and present. How about you? We all know that story! And, more importantly those words have not and do not provide a solution!!!
Attending, the “Yellow Poster” citizens meeting held on Thursday (August 27th) evening at the Berlin Intermediate School did surprise…it was NOT the total, reckless, “rant” session I had envisioned. Chaired by Lisa Hall (now I have the face with the name), and with the main presentation offered by Ron Birely, former Berlin Town Administrator, it turned out to be informative although again, those words above were mentioned too many times for my taste. Mr. Birely, after giving a brief history of the Berlin Electric Company, did explain with the use of an overhead projector how our daily usage rates are determined. He also offered several reasonable ideas for personal conservation and overall tried to answer questions from the 
very large audience. However, it wasn’t until local citizen, Greg White stood up and offered his “take” that the fog began to clear for many. Followed quickly by Erik Quisgard, current member of the Berlin Utility Commission and a professional “numbers” guy, the clarity became complete for most. Berlin MD Town Councilwoman, Paula Lynch further endorsed these explanations. Both Mr. White and Mr. Quisgard carefully explained that for us to get our current real rate each month, the charges listed, – Residential Electric, the PCA (Power Cost Adjustment) as well as those niggling little unavoidable charges such as the Franchise Surcharge, Residential Customer Charge, Environmental Surcharge, and Universal Service Program Charge Res should be totaled (located under Total Electric Charge) then divided by the number of kilowatts used. This is the real rate we’re currently paying. Many ask, “Why is it more than that of my friend in West Ocean City, Bishopville, etc.?” A portion of our charges goes to the operation of the BEC – and debt service – the $11.5 million dollars that is still owed due to the past upgrades on our electric utility that must be apportioned. And, with the ever increasing costs of energy nationwide impacting our costs it all adds up.
Can anything be done, any ratepayer relief in sight? That’s the real-time question that will hopefully be answered quickly through the actions of our Town Officials. Recently hired by the Town, a professional enginering team from Booth & Associates has already begun an analysis and has told our officials…”there is hope”. We should be hearing something by October. In the meantime it would be preferable if we could refrain from the finger pointing, blame and those wildly overused words above…shoulda’, woulda’ and coulda’. Obviously, they just don’t work!!! This issue is way too important to each of us all to be “just politics”!
