Md. Regulators Fine Pepco $1M

BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Maryland Public Service Commission has fined Pepco $1 million for failing to maintain its system properly over a period of years and subjecting customers to long outages too often.

The PSC announced the fine on Wednesday.

The commission says the case was initiated after it received an unusually high number of complaints from customers and elected officials regarding Pepco's reliability. Formal proceedings began in August 2010.

In addition to the fine, the PSC's order requires Pepco to file a detailed and updated work plan for the next five years that includes measures to improve communications and service restoration by Feb. 21.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)