State Roundup, June 30, 2016

HOGAN, DEL. GOV UNITE AGAINST POWER COST HIKES: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is joining forces with Delaware Gov. Jack Markell (D) to fight an increase in electricity rates to cover the cost of a power line that will connect Delaware to a nuclear power complex that sits off its shores, Ovetta Wiggins reports for the Post. The director of the Maryland Energy Administration said that at least 385,000 Maryland residents would be affected by the rate increases. She estimated that the average customer would pay $2 to $3 more a month.

  • Hogan met with Markell at Harpoon Hanna’s, a restaurant at the line between Ocean City and Fenwick Island, Del., for lunch and a news conference. He called the ruling on how to split up the costs of the project “a terrible decision,” writes Michael Dresser in the Sun. Hogan said ratepayers in Maryland and Delaware will bear about 90% of the costs of the $272 million power line, while 90% of the benefits will go to New Jersey.

  • “We have expressed our disappointment, frustration and opposition in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this week and we have let the agency know that we are going to use every tool at our disposal to reverse this regrettable and improper decision,” Hogan said. Both Hogan and Markell stopped short of vowing to pursue the matter in court, saying they hoped federal regulators would change their ruling without the need for a lawsuit, reports Bryan Sears in the Daily Record.

UM CHIEFS GET RAISES: It may be lonely at the top, but there are some perks, writes Daniel Leaderman for the Daily Record. Leadership at 11 of the 12 University System of Maryland institutions will be getting raises in the coming fiscal year, most of no more than 3.5%. University of Maryland, College Park President Wallace Loh is getting the largest increase of $73,723, or 14%, bringing his total fiscal 2017 salary up to $600,314, according to data provided by the university system.

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http://marylandreporter.com/2016/06/30/state-roundup-june-30-2016/