Jeannette Mills, Sr. VP and Chief Customer Officer
 Thanksgiving is a unique tradition that many, if not all, Americans share. It’s a time that we set aside to celebrate family, friends and the good things in our lives.
Despite the global economic challenges we face, Americans continue to celebrate this meaningful holiday and at the same time show compassion to those who are less fortunate.
At BGE, we understand the importance of giving back to our community. In fact, it’s one of our core values. Each year, thousands of Maryland families receive home weatherization and energy efficiency assistance from organizations we support. Our employees give to local charities, are members of nonprofit boards and volunteer their time as well. We’re also proud of the generosity of our customers, who do their part each year by contributing to the Fuel Fund of Maryland to help the less fortunate afford heat and light in the coldest, darkest months. Soon, you’ll have that chance once again as we send you the Fuel Fund donation envelopes in December and January. There is so much we can accomplish to help others when we join together.
This year, as you once again watch parades, prepare and enjoy meals, or watch the games (go Ravens!), BGE wishes you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
In recognition of Thanksgiving, BGE’s corporate offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. Our crews will be ready to respond, however, in the event of an emergency. If you see downed wires or suspect a gas leak please go to a safe distance and call 410.685.0123. Power Outages should be reported by calling 1.877.778.2222.
Robert Gould
Rob Gould, VP and Chief Communications Officer
 As a retired U.S. Air Force officer with nearly 27 years of service, I’ve experienced the pride of serving my country and working alongside the men and women who make up our military. That’s why Veterans Day will always hold special meaning for me.
For more than 200 years, Americans have served our nation in uniform – preserving the very freedoms our forefathers fought so hard to secure. Many pivotal events have left an indelible mark on our nation’s history. From Lexington and Bunker Hill, to the beaches of Normandy, and most recently, to Iraq and Afghanistan, America’s military has served with great pride and distinction. For me, that pride is constant. The emotions I feel when watching the color guard, made up of Korean and Vietnam War veterans and current service members, march onto the field during the Ravens pre-game ceremony to the song, “Proud to be an American” is indescribable. That and countless other events serve as an endless reminder that freedom often comes with a price.
 At BGE, we honor our employees and customers who have served, as well as those currently serving in the reserve components. Their commitment is commendable, as are the sacrifices made by the families who bear a special burden during times when their loved ones are deployed. Today, Veterans Day observances will take place across the country with speeches, reflections and parades. In fact, BGE veterans had the honor of participating in Baltimore City’s Veterans Day Parade just a few hours ago (see our Flickr page for photos).
To the many men and women across our Central Maryland service territory who are currently serving or who have served, thank you to you and your families. Let’s also remember to pay tribute to our military heroes who have passed on. We wish you a safe and meaningful Veterans Day.
Very Respectfully,
Robert L. Gould
Colonel (Ret.), Maryland National Guard
U.S. Army (1983-1999)
U.S. Air Force (1999-2010)
To see a short video of our participation in the Baltimore City Veterans Day Parade, click on our YouTube link.
Simon Benjamin
Simon Benjamin – Overhead Mechanic, Distribution Operations
I’ve been a BGE overhead mechanic for three-and-a-half years. During that time, I’ve worked summer storms and winter storms and just about everything in between. But nothing compared with last August when Hurricane Irene caused such incredible damage to our system. We worked for days and days to restore power to our customers, and it was very gratifying to be part of our hard-working team.
After the snowstorm hit New England, we were called to provide mutual assistance to our sister utilities. Like many of the guys I work with, I volunteered right away. I had never worked a mutual assistance job and was looking forward to the challenge. We left Halloween morning to support Con Ed, the local New York utility. Once we got there, we found lots of damage—wires down, tree limbs on wires and some broken poles. We started working right away because we knew customers had been out of power for several days and were losing patience, and even a little bit of hope.
The customers have been just terrific. People are so happy to see us. Some customers have tried to give us money to buy lunch or coffee, but we always  politely refuse. I pride myself on having a calm demeanor, a good attitude, and I always keep my emotions in check. The few times I’ve come across an irate customer, I’ve assured him or her that we are doing our best to get the lights on as quickly as possible. One woman, who was very angry, ended up with a big smile on her face when I explained that we were there to repair the pole that caused the outage. Customers are looking for reassurance that their lives will be back to normal soon. One of the best parts of my job is closing the fuse that turns on the power. We often hear a big cheer from customers when the lights come on.
After five days in New York, we left for Connecticut to support Connecticut Power & Light. Fortunately, the weather has been beautiful—very sunny with highs in the 40s and 50s which makes the work go faster. Since we’re working on an unfamiliar system, we talk about safety constantly. There are daily safety briefings with the host utility, then we have our own safety briefing before we hit the road. Finally, we have a safety briefing when we arrive at each site. I’m proud and thankful to report that there have been no safety incidents.
 Even though the hotel is comfortable and we are fed breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, being on the road for more than a week—especially doing this kind of physical work for more than 14 hours a day—gets pretty tiring. But the toughest part is being away from my four-year-old daughter. I call her every day, and every day she asks the same question: ‘Daddy, when are you coming home?’ She understands that I have an important job and was excited when I told her we would go Christmas shopping as soon as I get home. I know she’s in good hands and that helps me be able to fully concentrate on my job.
The jobs are winding down and we should be home by Friday of this week. I’m really looking forward to seeing my daughter and sleeping in my own bed, but we won’t leave until all the work here is done. I remember being so thankful to the outside crews who assisted us during Hurricane Irene, so returning the favor is just the right thing to do. On behalf of all the guys working mutual assistance, we want to thank the customers of Consolidated Edison, Public Service Electric & Gas, Pennsylvania Power & Light and Connecticut Power & Light. Your kindness and generosity have been so appreciated!
BGE welcomes all comments. Because field employees may not have regular access to a computer, responses may be delayed or the response may come from a designated spokesperson.
To see more images from our mutual assistance effort regarding the October snowstorm visit our Flickr site. Michael Davenport Michael Davenport - Director, Customer Outreach & Community Engagement
 Delivering safe and reliable energy is a key responsibility for us, but so is helping customers stay informed. BGE provides helpful information, such as energy-efficiency tips, energy safety strategies, and environmental news to customers in a variety of ways. You may have come across our advertisements, visited our website or perhaps received information in the mail. While media, direct mail and electronic communications may help spread our messages, sometimes it’s even more effective to have personal one-on-one conversations. Recently, BGE held its second Smart Energy Fair at Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore City. We met hundreds of customers who came with questions on how to better manage energy usage and cost; curiosity about BGE programs; and interest in outside resources that can help those who qualify for limited income assistance.
This event is designed to provide every customer with personal attention and information to help their situation. Some customers enrolled in programs onsite, others simply wanted literature that they could pass on to their friends or family members. Whatever the case, our purpose for being at the fair wasn’t just to be heard, but to listen. As customers come out to learn about BGE and what we have to offer, we also take the time to learn a little more about those that we serve. From criticisms to praise – every comment and feedback we receive is important to us and quite frankly can be used to help us enhance our service to our customers.
Do you have questions about our programs? Looking for ways to increase energy efficiency and savings? Perhaps you are interested in learning more about electric vehicles? No matter your energy-related interest, we invite you to have a conversation with us. Contact our call center, talk to us through social media ( Facebook / Twitter) or come out to one of our events.  We are always committed to hearing from our customers and strengthening our relationship.
To see photos from our Smart Energy Fair check out our Flickr link. You can watch our YouTube video as well.
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