Smart Grid Jobs Shot Down In Baltimore County

Baltimore Gas and Electric’s plan to create some 1,700 jobs has been shot down, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.  The plan was rejected by the Maryland Public Service Commission late Monday evening.  The company’s intent was to install 2 million new customer electricity meters that would allow both consumers and utility employees to track electricity usage in real time.

Although the program hasn’t been officially scrapped, it seems likely that it will not go forward.  It envisioned some 350 plus meter technicians and an additional 1,340 jobs based on subcontracts and other support positions.  Many of those subcontract jobs would stem from work by the company VSI Meter Services, Inc., which would be in charge of installing the meters.  The company is based in Southern Pennsylvania.