BGE Goes Super Bowling, Ellis Gets Called On Quorum, A Nudge For Weissmann, In Political Notes

By Christine Condon and Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters

February 10, 2026

Lots of people say they watch the Super Bowl just for the ads. But maybe not these ads.

Baltimore Gas & Electric ran ads over the weekend on local channels, including during the Super Bowl, hawking its solution for high electric bills. The ad argues that private power suppliers have failed to provide enough energy to fuel the grid, causing prices for consumers to skyrocket.

“Maryland’s public utilities can be a part of the solution, adding competition with public oversight to help keep costs under control. But current rules stand in the way,” a narrator says, as the gates of a chain-link fence slam closed in the foreground.

“The system is broken. It’s time to change the rules, and put Marylanders first,” finishes the ad, which is available on YouTube.

BGE and its parent company, Chicago-based Exelon, have been campaigning hard for Maryland to allow its utilities, which currently handle power distribution, to be allowed to build and operate power generation facilities — and recover their costs through Marylanders’ electric bills. Consumer advocates are raising alarms about the idea, however.

BGE spent $68,000 to run the advertisement before and after the game on WBAL, Baltimore’s NBC affiliate. But they are part of a larger campaign, which also includes ads on other local television stations, Federal Communications Commission documents show.

The ads are expected to continue airing on local television stations in the Baltimore area, said Valencia McClure, senior vice president of government, regulatory and external affairs for Exelon’s Maryland utilities, which also include Pepco and Delmarva Power. The ads may also appear on social media and digital media, she said.

She emphasized that the company cannot use customer fees to pay for the campaign, which she called educational for customers.

“This campaign is really to help customers understand what’s driving costs and explore options for how utilities can support customers,” McClure said.

Not everyone agrees with Exelon’s narrative. Consumer advocates and environmental groups have argued that letting utilities build and operate power generation, and pass the costs on to ratepayers, is really a money grab from investor-owned Exelon, and will only add burden to customers’ bills.

Consumer groups, including the Office of People’s Counsel, have argued that, while the nation’s largest electric grid (which includes Maryland) is facing supply shortfalls because of projected demand from data centers, it is actually utility overspending that has caused many of the increases that have hit customer bills thus far.

Exelon’s push has also led to it locking horns with its former subsidiary, Constellation, which operates power plants in Maryland, including the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant and Conowingo hydroelectric dam. Constellation has proposed new generation for a government fast-track, including concepts for a new natural gas plant and battery storage infrastructure.

“This is just another attempt by Exelon and BGE to change the subject from what is truly driving utility bills higher in Maryland,” wrote Paul Adams, a spokesman for Constellation.

‘Presence is present’

Day two of Sen. Arthur Ellis’ one-man protest got off to a rough start Monday with a question that sent senators scrambling for their Senate rule books.

Ellis (D-Charles) announced last week that he would refuse to participate in Senate quorum calls — a procedural vote that ensures there are at least 24 of the 47 senators on the floor so the Senate can conduct business — until the Senate called up House Bill 488, the bill redrawing the state’s eight congressional districts. That bill has been bottled up in the Senate Rules Committee, where it is not expected to die without a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) checks his rules book Monday during a discussion on what constitutes a quorum on the Senate floor. (Photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Ellis did not register his presence during Monday’s electronic roll call. But he questioned whether Senate rules would blunt his efforts. Senate rules reviewed by Maryland Matters state that the mere presence of enough senators to constitute a quorum is enough whether they participate or not.

“I saw communications in the press say that [not registering his presence during a quorum call] doesn’t matter, as long as I’m physically here, that’s what counts,” Ellis asked at the start of the Senate floor session Monday night.

The discussion sent lawmakers rushing to their Senate rule books, including Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) who pulled out his sticky note-annotated copy.

Ferguson confirmed the rule.

“That is the case,” said Ferguson. “Presence is present.”

Despite not participating in quorum calls, Ellis can still vote on bills. In fact, another Senate rule requires senators who are on the floor to vote on bills that come before the chamber.

The redistricting bill remained in the Senate Rules Committee as of Monday night.

Don’t forget where you came from

Acting Maryland Budget Secretary Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann is no stranger to the Senate Executive Nominations Committee — a fact he was reminded of Monday night when he appeared for his confirmation hearing.

Weissmann was tapped last fall to replace Helene Grady as Gov. Wes Moore’s budget secretary. In a previous life, Weissmann served as chief of staff to Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and Senate President Emeritus Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.

Ferguson was quick to remind Weissmann of his legislative roots and leverage those origins for the coming budget discussions.

“When it comes to conference committee, you are a product of the Senate,” Ferguson joked.

Weissmann was one of 17 appointees to come before the committee Monday night. The group included a baker’s dozen District Court judges, some new, and some reappointments including John Morrissey, chief judge of the District Court.

Other Moore appointments included Acting Department of Veterans and Military Families Secretary Edward Rothstein; Maryland State Police Superintendent Michael Jackson, a former senator; and Eric Bryant, who was appointed to the Maryland State Board of Elections to finish the remainder of Weissmann’s term there.

The committee voted unanimously Monday night to recommend confirmation of all 17 nominees. A vote by the full Senate could come as early as Thursday.

Reynolds takes over administration and finance in the comptroller’s office

Alexandra Reynolds, the deputy director for administration and finance in the comptroller’s office, has been promoted to the director’s job, Comptroller Brooke Lierman announced Monday.

Alexandra Reynolds, the new director of administration and finance in the comptroller’s office. (Photo courtesy Maryland Comptroller’s Office/Maryland Matters)

As director, Reynolds will oversee the f’ull spectrum of budgeting, accounting, procurement, and administrative services across all programs within the Comptroller’s Office,” according to the announcement from the office.

“Alexandra Reynolds has demonstrated exceptional leadership and deep expertise throughout her career in state government,” Lierman said in the statement. “Her commitment to operational excellence and public service will ensure that our agency continues to operate at the highest level with transparency and efficiency to support the people of Maryland.”

Reynolds is a 31-year veteran of state government, having started with the comptroller’s office in the General Accounting Division before moving over to the Motor Vehicle Administration. She returned to the comptroller’s office in 2021 as assistant director of administration and finance and was promoted to deputy a year later.

She said in the announcement that she is grateful for the opportunity to serve as director and “committed to strengthening our operational processes in order to provide exceptional support for both our internal and external customers while maintaining a high level of quality and efficient financial and administrative services.”