At BGE, our job is to make electricty safe and reliable. That’s why we invest nearly $70 million each year on projects designed to prevent outages, and shorten their duration if they occur. Here are some of the reasons why sustained outages have been reduced by 27 percent since 1994:
Defending the system against nature
Vegetation Management - BGE invests approximately $15 million a year to carefully prune tree branches that threaten wires during storms. Customers typically experience 57% fewer tree-related power interruptions in areas that have been recently trimmed.- Wildlife Protection - Since 1995, BGE has been installing new barriers and insulation materials to protect electrical components from damage caused by wildlife, resulting in a 33% reduction in wildlife-related outages.
- Lightning Protection Program - Lightning strikes can cause damage to both overhead and underground lines. Upgraded protection equipment has reduced lightning-related interruptions by 27 percent since 1994.
Improving technology
- Distribution Automation - BGE is installing new equipment to isolate problem areas and restore sections automatically while the primary problem is assessed and repaired. This means fewer outages and faster restoration overall.
- Automatic Internal Analysis – We use computer programs to identify repeated or prolonged outages so our engineers and technicians can easily prioritize equipment repairs.
- Thermovision - Infrared cameras detect potential problem areas on underground equipment so it can be repaired before an outage occurs.
- Infrastructure Reliability Projects - BGE's engineers and field staff are constantly assessing and upgrading the distribution and transmission systems to improve and enhance reliability.
Maintaining system reliability
- Inspection and Maintenance Program - We constantly inspect 21,000 miles of wire and thousands of electrical components to identify elements needing repair.
- Cable Replacement Program - We prevent 30,000 interruptions per year by identifying and repairing problematic underground cables.
- Wood Pole Program - BGE inspects 350,000 wood poles regularly to check for deterioration and insect damage. We treat, reinforce, and replace poles regularly to ensure a safe network.
What can you do?
The most important thing you can do is stay safe around electrical equipment. Use the proper guidelines when planting trees near power lines or green transformer boxes. If you’re digging, state law requires you to call Miss Utility first at 800.257.7777 at least 48 hours prior to beginning your project. Utility representatives will mark underground lines so you know where wires and pipes are buried.
