>> CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT.

THPS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE."

COMING UP TONIGHT, ADVICE FOR SAVING ON UTILITY BILLS AND NOT GETTING RIPPED OFF.

AND A SALUTE TO A VANISHING BREED.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT WITH DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR WES MOORE SAYS HE WON'T TAKE HIS OPPONENT LIGHTLY.

THAT AND MORE IN OUR "POLITICAL ROUNDTABLE."

JOINING US THIS WEEK ARE OVETTA WIGGINS OF THE WASHINGTON POST AND JOSH KURTZ, THE FOUNDING EDITOR OF MARYLAND MATTERS.

THANK YOU GOATH BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.

LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE APPLICABLE WORLD, POLITICAL MARYLAND, INCLUDING LRG WITH TREATING WEDNESDAY MOORE, THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AS IF HE IS THE GOVERNOR-ELECT AT THIS POINT.

OVETTA, YOU REPORTED THAT MR. MOORE WAS ON THE RADIO TRYING TO TAMP THAT DOWN A BIT.

>> YEAH, I THINK HE'S DEFINITELY CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WILL GET THIS MESSAGE THAT HE'S THE GOVERNOR-ELECT ALREADY, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A NOVEMBER ELECTION.

HE WAS ON WBAL YESTERDAY AND SAID THAT HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH GOVERNOR HOGAN, THAT HE'S NOT TAKING THIS RACE FOR GRANTED, AND THAT HE IS GOING TO RUN THIS RACE JUST LIKE HE RAN HIS PRIMARY, WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD HIS COALITION OUT, AND IS JUST PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET THE MESSAGE THAT HE WANTS TO PORTRAY AND TO SHOW THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND HIS GUBERNATORIAL -- HIS REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> Jeff: JOSH, WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, MR. COX, BUILDING OUT HIS COALITION?

SO IN THE PRIMARY HE SUCCESSFULLY TIED HIMSELF REALLY CLOSELY TO DONALD TRUMP.

WHO IN HIS RACE FOR RE-ELECTION TWO YEARS AGO ONLY GOT 32% OF THE VOTE IN MARYLAND,.

MAYBE THAT'S HIS FLOOR AND HE'S GOT TO BUILD FROM THERE, BUT HOW DOES HE DO IT?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

THAT'S A QUESTION A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING I THINK, JEFF.

CLEARLY THERE IS ROOM FOR SOME GROWTH.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER HE'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO KIND OF HUE TO THE TRUMP LINE CLOSELY OR WHETHER HE CAN EXPAND.

AND CERTAINLY THIS IS LOOKING LIKE GENERALLY IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU WOULD THINK IF DELEGATE COX STARTS TALKING ABOUT INFLATION AND CRIME AND, YOU KNOW, SOME EDUCATION ISSUES, THAT THERE WOULD BE ROOM TO BUILD.

BUT AGAIN, IF HE'S JUST GOING TO TALK MOSTLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ELECTION FRAUD AND RELITIGATING 2020, IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER.

TO OVETTA'S POINT ABOUT WES MOORE NOT WANTING TO BE OVERCONFIDENT, I'M PRETTY CONVINCED THAT HIS CAMPAIGN IS NOT OVERCONFIDENT.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER DEMOCRATS IN GENERAL, DEMOCRATIC DONORS, DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS ARE OVERCONFIDENT.

I THINK THAT'S A REAL THREAT.

AND REMEMBER, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT GOT LRG ELECTED IN 2014.

-- LARRY HOGAN.

DEMOCRATS TAKE HIM SERIAL AS A CANDIDATE UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE BASICALLY.

>> Jeff: SO DO DEMOCRATS TURN OUT IN THE FALL?

BUT AT THE SAME TIME DO REPUBLICANS TURN OUT IN THE FALL?

THEY'RE BADLY DIVIDED ALONG THE TRUMP AXIS.

I MEAN, REPUBLICANS -- [INDECIPHERABLE] LEEKS BUT DOES THE HOGAN WING STAY HOME?

>> YEAH, THIS IS ACTUALLY -- DRMS ALWAYS THOUGHT TO BE -- AS BEING, YOU KNOW, THE PARTY THAT FIGHTS WITH EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.

REPUBLICANS KIND OF FALL IN LINE.

IF ANYTHING, IT MAY BE THE OPPOSITE THIS CYCLE IN MARYLAND.

>> Jeff: AND OVETTA, YOU REPORTED ON THE DOWN BALLOT IMPACTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

MAYBE EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS AND HOW IT COULD PLAY OUT.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE PARTY, WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT HAVING DAN COX AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR THOSE RACES LOWER DOWN ON THE BALLOT, SOME OF THOSE LOCAL RACES, FOR EXAMPLE.

THIS ISN'T A LOWER RACE, BUT FLASHMAN IS RUNNING, THE CURRENT HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS RUNNING FOR COMPTROLLER AND HE HAS SAID THAT LEES NOT SUPPORT HE'S NOT SUPPORTING DAN COX.

YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT GOING TO CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

SO THE QUESTION IS HOW WILL THAT AFFECT GLASSMAN'S RACE, TRYING TO BECOME COMPTROLLER.

YOU ALSO HAVE SOME LOCAL COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN HOWARD COUNTY, WHERE KELLY SCHULZ WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THAT COUNTY, SO YOU WONDER WHETHER SOME OF THOSE HOGAN REPUBLICANS WILL COME OUT TO VOTE FOR ALLEN KITTLEMAN WHO IS TRYING TO REGAIN THAT SEAT.

THAT RACE IN ITSELF IN HOWARD COUNTY FOR CAVILL BALL WHO IS RUNNING AS THE DEMOCRAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TIGHT -- WAS EXPECTED TO BE A TIGHT MATCH-UP, BUT NOW PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO GO TO CALVIN BALL.

SO THE FACT THAT DAN COX IS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF IMPACT IN THESE LOWER RACES.

>> Jeff: SO IT'S EVERY CANDIDATE FOR HIMSELF, HIS OR HERSELF.

BUT, YOU KNOW, VOTERS SOMETIMES LIKE TO TICKET SPLIT, LIKE THEY PICK A DEMOCRAT FOR THIS, A REPUBLICAN FOR THAT.

SHOULD SOME OF THESE PEOPLE, JOSH, ABANDON ALL HOPE OR MAYBE TWEAK STRATEGY A LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK YOU ABANDON ALL HOPE BUT YOU CERTAINLY DO CHANGE YOUR STRATEGY, AND OVETTA IS RIGHT, PARTICULARLY IN THESE KIND OF PURPLY COUNTIES OR PURPLE DISTRICTS, I THINK COX IS GOING TO BE AN ALBATROSS FOR A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME PLACES WHERE COX BEING ON THE BALLOT IS GOING TO INCREASE REPUBLICAN TURNOUT, BUT THOSE ARE RACES WHERE REPUBLICANS WOULD PROBABLY WIN ANYWAY.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW EACH REPUBLICAN TWEAKS THEIR STRATEGY AND WHETHER THEY CAN SUCCESSFUL DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM.

I THINK IN A COUPLE OF CASES THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, LOCK I'M THE ONLY, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, SANE REPUBLICAN ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT MIGHT APPEAL TO SOME INDEPENDENCE AND MODERATE DEMOCRATS BUT WE'LL SEE.

IT'S TOUGH.

>> Jeff: JOSH, I WONDER ABOUT THE HEAVILY REPUBLICAN AREAS IN WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE EASTERN SHORE WHERE THERE ARE POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

>> YEAH.

IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S TOUGH.

IT'S INTERESTING TO KIND OF -- IT'S TOUGH TO KIND FIGURE HOW COX BEING AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS GOING TO IMPACT THOSE RACES.

I THINK THE EASTERN SHORE RACE WITH CONGRESSMAN ANDY HARRIS, HARRIS IS VERY CONSERVATIVE AND KIND OF ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, TOO, SO THEY'LL SORT OF BE IN ALIGNMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, HARRIS IS FAVORED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE DYNAMIC IS GOING TO CHANGE.

IT POSSIBLY COULD.

CERTAINLY THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IS CHANGING IT.

THE 6th DISTRICT RACE IN WESTERN MARYLAND IS VERY COMPETITIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, CONGRESSMAN TORINO, IS SO WEALTD AND HAS SO MUCH MONEY TO POUR INTO THE RACE, SO THAT IS KIND OF A DYNAMIC ALL ON ITS OWN, I THINK.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, WE'RE TEN DAYS PAST ELECTION DAY AND IT'S BAR STILL BEING COUNTED.

POTENTIALLY A LOT OF THEM IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, RIGHT?

>> PARTICULARLY, YEAH.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SEEMS TO BE THE OUTLIER, SEEMS TO COUNT THEM SLOWER THAN EVERYONE ELSE AND THERE AE MORE OF THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE NEXT COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS GOING TO BE, SO THERE'S THAT.

AND THE BALLOTS COULD PREDICT -- COULD CHANGE THE FINAL MARGIN EVEN IN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARIES, WHICH ARE, YOU KNOW, THE DEMOCRATIC RACE IS GETTING CLOSER BECAUSE TOM PEREZ IS DOING BORT MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

>> Jeff: IT REMAINS REALLY INTERESTING TO ME THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THE GUBERNATORIAL VOTE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE DEPEND.

GENDING HOW SOMEBODY VOTED, IF THEY PHYSICALLY WENT TO VOTE EITHER EARLY VOTING OR ON ELECTION DAY, WES MOORE WON THAT HANDILY.

THE ABSENTEE AND MAIL-IN BALLOTS ARE FAVORING TOM PEREZ.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

CURIOUS THEORIES?

>> I THINK PART OF IT IS MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMING IN STRONG FOR PEREZ, BUT I THINK IN GENERAL, AND PLEASE, OVETTA, JUMP IN, BUT THERE ARE NOW SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR MARYLANDERS TO VOTE, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO PIRG FIGURE OUT WHO VOTED WHICH WAY AND WHY.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

I ACTUALLY ASKED THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ABOUT WHEN THEY MAKE THE TALLY OF, WHEN THEY ACTUALLY WILL HAVE DATA ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE DROPPED OFF THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS, SO WHETHER THEY DROPPED THEM OFF BEFORE EARLY VOTING OR IF IT HAPPENED LATER IN THE ELECTION CYCLE, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT KIND OF DATA.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING.

>> SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

I THINK IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TOO, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE WHO VOTED BY MAIL EARLY ON AND PEOPLE WHO VOTED BY MAIL LATER.

THERE'S A THEORY THAT THAT VOTE IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT EVEN AMONG THOSE VOTERS.

>> Jeff: WELL,, IT WAS TWO WEEKS BEFORE ELECTION DAY THAT THE MOORE CAMPAIGN RELEASED AN INTERNAL POLL SHOWING FRANCHOT AHEAD AND WES MOORE RIGHT BEHIND BEHIND HIM, MAYBE A POINT BACK, SO THERE'S CLEARLY SOME LATE MOVEMENT IN THE CASE.

, YOU KNOW, TURNOUT WAS UP.

MAYBE HAVING A PRIMARY IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY IS A GREAT IDEA AND WE SHOULD DO IT ALL THE TIME.

>> REMEMBER, TURNOUT WAS UP BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MAILED IN, DID THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING.

SO IF YOU ADD IT ALL UP, YOU GET HIGH, RELATIVELY HIGH TURNOUT, STILL A PRIMARY.

>> RIGHT.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO JOSH KURTZ AND OVETTA WIGGINS.

OUR "NEWSMAKER" THIS WEEK IS DAVID LAPPE, MARYLAND'S PEOPLE'S COUNSEL.

MR. LAPPE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

YOU HAVE A GREAT SHOW.

>> Jeff: APPRECIATE ALL THAT.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: LET'S START WITH WHAT YOUR OFFICE DOES.

THE PEOPLE AS COUNSEL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE'S COURT, RIGHT?

YOU REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS WHEN IT EXOMS TO MATTERS BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE REPRESENT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN CASES BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, ALSO BEFORE FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES, AND WE ALSO PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMERS.

>> NOW, RECENTLY YOU ASKED THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO PROTECT LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS FROM RETAIL SUPPLIER PRICE GOUGING.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING?

>> WELL, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT CUSTOMERS NOW HAVE A CHOICE ACROSS THE STATE OR ACROSS MOST OF THE STATE TO CHOOSE GAS OR ELECTRIC RETAIL SUPPLIER OTHER THAN THEIR LOCAL UTILITY.

LOCAL UTILITY CONTINUES TO DELIVER PRODUCT, THE COMMODITY, ELECTRICITY OR GAS.

CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE A RETAIL SUPPLIER.

AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THIS HAS BEEN OVER 20 YEARS NOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE.

FEWER THAN 20% OF MARYLAND CUSTOMERS ACTUALLY SHOP FOR POWER, BUT A LOT OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT DO SHOP ARE PAYING HIGHER RATES THAN WHAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE UTILITY'S SORT OF DEFAULT SERVICE.

AND WHAT WE SEE IS THAT A LOT OF THE COMPANIES, THE RETAIL SUPPLIERS, A LOT OF THEM TARGET LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A LOT OF LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS THAT ARE PAYING MORE THAN THE RATE THAT THEY WOULD PAY THE LOCAL UTILITY.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT HURTS THOSE CUSTOMERS, BUT MANY OF THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE ON STATE ENERGY ASSISTANCE, AND SO THOSE STATE ENERGY ASSISTANCE DOLLARS GO -- DON'T GO AS FAR WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO PAY A RETAIL SUPPLIER THAT IS CHARGING AN EXORBITANT RATE.

>> HOW DO THESE COMPANIES SELL CUSTOMERS ON SIGNING UP TO PAY MORE?

OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE NOT TELLING THEM, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE.

>> WELL, WE HAVE LAW-ABIDING ONES AND WE HAVE ONES THAT ARE NOT SO LAW-ABIDING, BUT THEY CAN DO IT BY LEGALLY IF THEY CAN CONVINCE THE CUSTOMER THAT THERE'S SOME BENEFIT TO IT.

THEY CAN MARKET, YOU KNOW, GREEN ENERGY.

OF COURSE, WHETHER IT'S REALLY GREEN OR NOT IS A SEPARATE QUESTION.

THEY CAN GIVE FREQUENT FLYER MILES OR THEY CAN GIVE TICKETS TO O'S GAMES OR THAT SORT OF THING, SO THEY TRY TO ENTICE THEM WITH OTHER INDUCEMENTS, AND THEY OFTEN ARE NOT AS CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT AS THEY COULD BE ABOUT THE RATE THAT THE CUSTOMER WILL PAY AFTER THEY SIGN ON.

>> NOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR GREEN POWER IF IT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE ELECTRICITY COMING FROM SOLAR OR WIND GENERATION.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT IS, YOU KNOW, I'VE LOOKED INTO IT, I'VE PERIODICALLY SIGNED UP FOR A DEAL, ULTIMATELY FOUND THE SAVINGS WEREN'T WORTH THE TIME COMMITMENT TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT, AND THE SECOND THING IS THAT I DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THESE DEALS AND WHERE THEY SEEM TO GET IN TROUBLE IS WHERE THEY AGREE TO PAY A VARIABLE PRICE.

IS THAT IT?

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT A MAJORITY OF THESE RETAIL SUPPLIERS ARE SELLING AT VARIABLE PRICES, WHICH MEANS THAT THE CONSUMER IS VERY VULNERABLE TO PRICE FIGHTS, AND THE CUSTOMER WILL -- THERE WILL BE A TEASER RATE, AND SO THE CUSTOMER WILL SIGN ON AND THEY'LL THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET A LOWER RATE, AND THAT MAY BE THE WAY THAT THE RETAIL SUPPLIER MARKETS, YOU KNOW, THAT GAS OR THAT ELECTRICITY IS WITH THIS TEASER RATE.

AND IF THE CUSTOMER IS NOT CAREFUL, IN A MONTH OR TWO OR MAYBE THREE MONTHS SOMETIMES, THEY'LL FIX THE RATE FOR THREE MONTHS, BUT MOST PEOPLE AREN'T IN THE HABIT OF SHOPPING FOR A NEW ELECTRIC SUPPLIER OR GAS SUPPLIER EVERY FEW MONTHS, AND SO THEN THEY FIND THAT THEIR RATE GOES WAY UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND IF YOU'RE NOTE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR BILL, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T PAY AS CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEIR BILLS BECAUSE THEY VARY DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER, AND SO CUSTOMERS CAN END UP PAYING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OVER SOMETIMES EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

>> NOW, IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT SHOULD THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION BE DOING ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF THE PETITION THAT WE FILED, WE THINK THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE ISSUING REGULATIONS THAT IMPLEMENT THE STATUTE THAT WAS PASSED IN 2021, SO THE STATUTE WAS PASSED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WE THINK THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THAT STATUTE IS BY PROMULGATING REGULATIONS.

THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, AND SO WE WANT THEM TO MOVE AND DO THAT.

WE THINK THAT THERE IS A GREAT BENEFIT AND REALLY IT'S NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS LEGISLATION TO HAVE UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IF SOMEBODY DOES WANT TO SHOP FOR A BETTER RATE, WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN APPROACHED, THEY'VE GOTTEN MAIL, SOMEBODY'S KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, WHATEVER'S HAPPENED, WHAT IS YOUR BASIC ADVICE?

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD PEOPLE ASK?

>> PEOPLE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL.

THEY SHOULD ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY READ AND UNDERSTAND ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTS THAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO SIGN EITHER, YOU KNOW, HARD COPY OR ELECTRONICALLY, AND THEY SHOULD GET COPIES OF ANY CONTRACTS, A CONTRACT SUMMARY, AND THEY SHOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THEY GET A NOTICE THAT THEY CAN CANCEL BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU SIGN ON WITH A YOU RETAIL SUPPLIER, YOU HAVE THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN WHICH TO CANCEL IT, BUT THEY SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ANY VARIABLE RATES, AS YOU POINT OUT.

THOSE ARE A BIG PROBLEM.

THEY SHOULD NOT SHARE THEIR ACCOUNT NUMBER UNTIL THEIR LOCAL UTILITY, THEIR BBE, PETCO, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEIR LOCAL UTILITY'S ACCOUNT NUMBER BEFORE THEY'RE CERTAIN THAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION TO SIGN YOU ON WITH A RETAIL SUPPLIER, AND THEY SHOULD WATCH FOR ANY CLUES THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME DECEPTION IN THE MARKETING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF RETAIL SUPPLIERS THAT HAVE ENGAGED IN DECEPTIVE MARKETING PRACTICES.

THEY SHOULD BE CAREFUL.

UTILITY ITSELF WILL NOT COME TO YOUR DOOR AND OFFER YOU DIFFERENT SALES PACKAGES.

SOME RETAIL SUPPLIERS HAVE SORT OF BEEN CONFUSING ABOUT WHETHER THEY MIGHT BE ACTUALLY THE LOCAL UTILITY OR NOT, BUT THE LOCAL UTILITY WILL NOT BE ENGAGED IN THOSE PRACTICES AND THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY KNOW THAT NOBODY WILL HAVE THEIR UTILITY SERVICE CUT OFF WITHOUT NOTICES FROM THE UTILITY, SO DON'T LET ANY SALESPEOPLE, WHETHER THEY BE AT YOUR DOOR, OVER THE PHONE ORE LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER, DON'T FEEL PRESSURED.

AND THE SAFEST THING IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE NOT TO SIGN ON WITH THE RETAIL SUPPLIER, BUT IF YOU'RE CAREFUL, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES IN WHICH A CUSTOMER CAN BENEFIT FROM SHOPPING.

>> AND DOING NOTHING IS AN OPTION HERE.

IF SOMEBODY HAS WHAT'S CALLED DEFAULT RATE FROM WHATEVER THEIR UTILITY IS, WHETHER IT'S GAS OR ELECTRIC, EGE, PEP CO-OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN KEEP PAYING THAT.

WILL IT CHANGE OVER TIME.

BUT FROM WHAT YOU SAID, THAT'S WHAT 80% OF PEOPLE ARE DOING.

>> THAT'S WHAT 80%, YES, MORE THAN 80% ARE DOING, AND THAT SURPRISE A REGULATED PRICE.

IT IS -- IT CAN BE POSSIBLE TO FIND A LOWER PRICE AND IT CAN BE POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE GAS OR ELECTRICITY WITH GREEN ATTRIBUTES, BUT YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

AGAIN, THERE'S GREEN WASHING, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE'S MARKETING FOR GREEN ENERGY, WHICH MAY NOT BE SO GREEN, SO YOU REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE BUYING, READ THE FINE PRINT, AND IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, DON'T SIGN, DON'T SHARE YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER.

>> OUR THANKS TO PEOPLE'S COUNSEL DAVID LAPPE.

NOW, OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS REPORT.

HERE'S NANCY YAMADA.

>> WHEN WE STARTED TO DO THIS IN 2006, WE KNEW WE WERE IN TIME CRUNCH, SO WE STARTED TO DO HUNDREDS OF INTERVIEWS JUST KNOWING THAT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS A LOT OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN WOULD BE GONE.

>> Nancy: TIM GRAY, THE WORLD WAR II FOUNDATION, HAS CREATED 32 DOCUMENTARY FILMS FEATURING THE COMPELLING AND OFTEN HARROWING STORIES OF VETERANS WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN WORLD WAR II.

>> IF WE'RE DOING AT A FAIMENT AUSH WIT, WE GO TO AUSCHWITZ.

IF WE'RE GOING A FILM ABOUT GUADAL DMANLT PACIFIC, WE GO THERE.

>> Nancy: HIS MISSION?

>> EDUCATION.

I THINK A LOT OF THE ISSUE IS THAT WORLD WAR II REALLY ISN'T TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AS MUCH AS IT USED TO BE, IF AT ALL, SO WE'RE TRYING TO PUT STORIES OUT THERE THAT RESONATE WITH THE 14-YEAR-OLD AND THE 15-YEAR-OLD AND THE 22-YEAR-OLD TO TRY AND GET THEM TO MAYBE LOOK AT WORLD WAR II A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY TO LOOK AT THE EVENTS THAT CAUSED WORLD WAR II SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THOSE EVENTS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

>> Nancy: FOR THE VETERANS, SOME OF WHOM ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, SHARING THEIR MEMORIES CAN BE AN EMOTIONAL YET CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE.

>> SOME OF NIECE GUYS HAD TO DO REALLY HORRIFIC THINGS.

SOME OF THESE GUYS LIVED THROUGH HORRIFIC TIMES.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO TELLING THESE STORIES, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN TO TELLING A COMPLETE STRANGER THAN THEY ARE A MEMBER OF THEIR OWN FAMILY.

>> Nancy: IN 2020, THE U.S. WAS HOME TO SOME 500,000 WORLD WAR II VETERANS.

BY 2030, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES ONLY 8,000 WILL REMAIN.

>> WE WANT TO KEEP THE MEMORY OF THESE HEROS ALIVE.

>> Nancy: MENDES THOMAS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEST DEFENSE FOUNDATION.

A LARGE PART OF THEIR MISSION IS TO BRING WORLD WAR II VETERANS BACK TO WHERE THEY SERVE SOME 80 YEARS AGO.

>> WE'VE GONE TO NORMANDY SEVERAL TIMES, PEARL HARBOR, IWO JIMA.

I'M SEEING THROUGH THEIR EYES AS THEY'RE LOOKING ACROSS BATTLESHIP ROW AT PEARL HARBOR RELIVING THE DAY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL STICK WITH ME AND REALLY ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FOREVER.

WE ARE SO HONORED THAT WE GET TO BE THE ONES TO TAKE THEM BACK, THAT WE GET TO HEAR THESE STORIES FIRSTHAND, AND THEN WE GET TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO PASS ON.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY NOW, FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE OF WHAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN DID FOR US.

>> Nancy: I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: LONG BEFORE THE TERM "GLASS CEILING" BECAME A PART OF THE LEXICON, ONE LOCAL WOMAN BECAME A TRAILBLAZER.

OUR SUE KOPEN HAS HER STORY.

>> DO YOU KNOW -- WHO IS THAT?

>> THIS IS -- >> WHO IS THAT?

>> IT'S ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHO IS THIS?

>> Sue: AT 98 YEARS OLD IT'S EASY TO FERGTD A FEW PEOPLE YOU HAVE MET ALONG THE WAY AND BE MARTHA GO WANER HAS MET MANY ESPECIALLY DURING HER YEARS WITH THE PARK SAUSAGES COMPANY.

>> I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THAT WAY WHEN I GO INTO DIFFERENT STORES TO DEMONSTRATE AND TALK TO THE MANAGERS.

>> Sue: MARTHA OFTEN WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE JOINING THE ANN COMPANY'S TRUCK DRIVERS AS THEY DELIVERED THEIR PRODUCT TO THE STORES.

>> IT WASN'T NO HANKY-PANKY.

WE GOT ALONG VERY WELL.

>> Sue: MARTHA WAS WITH PARKS FROM ITS BEGINNING.

>> I STARTED OUT AS A BOOKKEEPER, AND THEN I MADE OFFICE MANAGER.

>> Sue: HER JOB EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OVERSEEING THE COMPANY'S MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION, AS WELL AS HANDLING THE COMPANY'S DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

>> I ALWAYS HAD SOME SORT OF TENDENCY TO BE A LEADER, SO WHAT HAPPENED REALLY STRUJTING OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TO DO.

>> MR.

PARKS TOOK HER WITH HIM, AND THAT'S HOW SHE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN THE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY.

AND SHE JUST TOOK IT FROM THERE.

BUT HE COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL AND SEE THAT MAMA WAS SMART.

>> Sue: MARTHA WORKED AT GLENN L. MARTIN DURING WORLD WAR II HELPING TO ASSEMBLE PLANES FOOTER WORLD EFFORT.

SHE JOINED PARKS WHICH BECAME THE FIRST BLACK OWNED COMPANY TO BE LISTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE AFTER THE WAR.

AND WHILE THIS RECENT HISTORIC MARKER OUTSIDE BALTIMORE'S M&T BANK STADIUM NOTES, THE BEGINNINGS OF THE PARKS COMPANY, THE ACTUAL START OF THE COMPANY WAS MUCH MORE MODEST.

IN THE BASEMENT OF PARK'S RESIDENCE.

>> IN THE BASEMENT WASN'T NOBODY IN THERE BUT MR.

PARKS, MR. HAYBURG, MS. GAS PUMPKINS AND MYSELF.

>> IF FIRST OFFICE MANAGER OF A BIG COMPANY, FIRST WOMAN, THAT'S AN AMAZING STORY.

THE TRAVEL, DO ALL THAT, AND JUST TO START OUT IN A BASEMENT APARTMENT, AND THE COMPANY TO GROW TO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY IS JUST AN AMAZING STORY.

THAT'S HISTORY IN ITSELF.

>> Sue: AND THERE'S THAT PARK SAUSAGE COMMERCIAL HEARD THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

>> MORE PARKS SAWDGESZ, MOM.

MORE PARKS SAUSAGES, PLEASE.

>> Sue: ST. MARTHA HAD A HAND IN THAT TOO.

>> IT STARTED OUT, "MORE PARKS SAWDGESZ, MOM."

SAWDGESZ, MOM" A CUSTOMER OR SOMEBODY COMPLAINED THAT THE CHILD DIDN'T HAVE ANY MANNERS, SO HE'S HOW THE "PLEASE" GOT ADDED TO IT.

>> Sue: FOR MARTHA WAGNER, IT WAS ALL JUST A PART OF DOING HER JOB.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WERE BREAKING A GLASS CEILING WHERE NO OTHER WOMAN HAD GONE?

>> I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT AT THE TIME.

>> BUT NOW WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I JUST RILED I WAS THE FIRST REALIZED I WAS THE FIRST.

>> MAMA IS STRONG TO HAVE DEALT IN AN ALL-MAN'S WORLD, PREDOMINANTLY WHITE WORLD, AND THEN SHE STILL COME OUT ON TOP.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HAS OUTLASTED EVERY ONE OF THEM.

>> Sue: IN PIKESVILLE, SUE KOPEN FOR "STATE CIRCLE."

>> Jeff: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "STATE CIRCLE."