Senate defeats bill allowing gas utility surcharge

A bill that would have let gas utilities seek a surchage of up to $2 a month on customers' bill was shot down -- for a second time --  Wednesday by a bipartisan coalition of senators who contended the measure would let monopolies charge ratepayers up front for infrastructure improvements the companies now have to finance out of their own coffers.

By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun

March 28, 2012