Maryland families have been hit hard by soaring energy bills this winter, with Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and parent company Exelon (Exelon) announcing a $2.5 million customer relief fund for low- and moderate-income customers. However, the relief is seen as a modest gesture of compassion, but overshadowed by the millions these companies spend protecting profits and influencing policies. Exelons, which also invested over $1 million lobbying Maryland policymakers, spent over $10 million in customer relief nationwide last year. A report by the Energy and Policy Institute found that utilities often attempt to recover political, advertising and image‑boosting costs through customer rates, which provide no direct benefit to the people paying the bills. The author argues that short-term relief funds cannot address long-term affordability challenges and demands a regulatory system that aligns utility spending with the public interest.