CHAP addresses exterior gas pressure regulators in Fed Hill

Jun 02, 2023

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A group of homeowners converged on a meeting of a Baltimore City commission over the now controversial exterior gas pressure regulators that were being installed outside Federal Hill homes.

The group provided the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation on Tuesday with a list of demands regarding the installation of gas regulators on historic property.

"It's about time that someone holds them accountable," said Claudia Towles, one of the homeowners.

A judge on Friday extended a temporary restraining order prohibiting Baltimore Gas and Electric from cutting and/or installing the regulators in Federal Hill, where homeowners fought and objected. The order was extended for another 60 days, which means the utility will not be able to cut off customers' service or install exterior regulators and meters during that period.

The March 3, 2022, gas explosion at an apartment complex in Silver Spring prompted new safety rules requiring the installation of gas regulators on the outside of buildings to control gas pressure. State law now mandates the devices. The Maryland Public Service Commission follows the rules in approving the installation. What's missing is how to install the devices without damaging or destroying historic architecture.

"They have the authority to act and they have not. In light of their deafening silence, in light of them violating their own rules and regulations, and in light of them providing literally no guidance to the people of Baltimore and this corporate monopoly, we are summoning them to do their job," attorney Thiru Vignarajah said.

The group is demanding that CHAP publicly announce that exterior gas pressure regulators are not allowed on any residence built more than 100 years ago without approval from CHAP and the homeowners. They also want CHAP to immediately suspend authorizing installations until the court settles the issue. They also want CHAP to issue a moratorium on installing regulators in all CHAP districts, national historic districts and districts that are eligible for that designation.

"At this point, we are no longer surprised at the actions that BGE takes. They went as far to arrest three women for protesting, me being one of them," Towles said. "We find it hard to understand that, with this information that is now available, the company should be allowed to proceed in any way because this is just bad faith."

CHAP members on Tuesday received an internal briefing on the issue and pledged to take steps to hold a public hearing in the next 30 days. They plan to explore the installation process and the repair work and they want to hear from BGE.

Mayra Medeleev, a CHAP member, said the commission wants to ask: "Do we know if there is any way that building owners can get out in front of the installation crews, have a little bit of input or discussion about how these things are installed?"

A Baltimore City Council committee will hold a hearing on the issue on Wednesday.

The Maryland Public Service Commission has scheduled a hearing to consider relocating this service on Aug. 15. The PSC said in a statement that it has received numerous complaints from BGE customers related to the ongoing relocation of gas service regulators from the interior to the exterior of homes.

| VIDEO BELOW: Temporary restraining order issued over BGE external regulators