BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. is asking Maryland regulators to approve rate hikes totaling about $185 million for the utility’s electric and natural gas customers.

BGE, which serves more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, filed it application for the rate increase with the Maryland Public Service Commission late Wednesday.

The company says the average residential electric bill would increase by $6.57 per month if its request is approved, while the average residential gas bill would jump by $8.53 per month.

But BGE notes the proposed increase for electric service would be more than offset by a 13 percent decrease in electric supply prices that took effect last month after a recent supply auction.

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