Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Restores Electric Service to More than 11,000 Customers Since Strong Storms Began Affecting Central Maryland

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), today announced that it is responding to power outages resulting from strong storms affecting its Central Maryland service area. The process of shifting employees from normal job duties to storm assignments is already underway and additional personnel have been put on stand-by should they be needed in the restoration effort.

"Today’s fast-moving weather system comes on the heels of Sunday’s storm and BGE’s efforts to restore service to the vast majority of the 124,000 customers affected within approximately 48 hours," said A. Christopher Burton, senior vice president of gas and electric operations and planning for BGE. "Once again, BGE employees are working to restore electric service to all customers as safely and as quickly as possible. We thank our customers for their patience and understanding."

The timing of this afternoon’s storm is such that some customers may not be aware that they’ve lost power until they arrive home from work this evening. As a result, the number of reported outages could increase over the next several hours, even if the weather system has cleared the area.

The safety of BGE’s customers and employees is always the utility’s top priority. Customers should avoid downed power lines and report them immediately by calling 1-877-778-2222. Customers should also call this number to report power outages where downed wires are not apparent. Only qualified BGE personnel or contractors are authorized to remove debris from power lines. Customers should never approach downed wires for any reason.

Just as BGE proactively prepares for storms, customers are strongly encouraged to also be ready for power outages. The best way for customers to prepare is by creating a storm kit to have on hand should they experience a power outage. The following items should be included in the kit:

• Flashlights – not candles 
• Fresh batteries
• Battery-operated clock radio
• Corded telephone
• Fully charged cell phone
• Non-perishable food
• Blankets

Customers should also consider filling the fuel tanks of their vehicles in the event a power outage affects service to neighborhood gas stations. For customers who rely on well water, filling a bathtub with water in advance of an approaching storm is strongly recommended. Customers should also make sure smoke detectors have battery backups and are operating properly and remember to unplug or turn off sensitive electronic equipment and appliances in advance of severe weather.

Additionally, customers with special needs such as those who may be elderly, handicapped or dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should have alternative arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage. Additional important information on storm preparedness can be found in the Storm Safety section of www.bge.com.

Once service restoration begins, BGE’s priorities are public safety issues and critical facilities, such as pumping stations, 911 centers and hospitals. Then restoration is generally scheduled so that the greatest number of customers can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible. However, in cases of extended power outages, consideration is also given to customers who have been without service for the longest.

BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 640,000 natural gas customers in Central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,000 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, a FORTUNE 500 company also headquartered in Baltimore, with subsidiaries that generate, sell and provide other energy-related services to customers throughout North America.