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BALTIMORE (May 22, 2019) – BGE and celebrity judge WBAL-TV meteorologist Ava Marie surprised students at Northwood Elementary School in Baltimore today, awarding the school $10,000 for creating this year's grand prize-winning video in the company's Wires Down Video Challenge.

The annual contest encourages elementary schools to create their own version of BGE's popular "Wires Down" electric safety commercial for the chance to win between $1,000 and $10,000 to fund a school enrichment project. The winning video will be played on all four Baltimore-area television stations.

"The kids at Northwood Elementary did a tremendous job this year with their award-winning video," said Rob Biagiotti, vice president of electric distribution for BGE. "We appreciate their enthusiasm and creativity and encourage all schools to take part in the future. Safety is BGE's top priority and this video shows that the students, teachers and administrators here are clearly committed to learning and teaching others about electrical safety."

Northwood Elementary plans to use the grand prize to  purchase mobile computer carts equipped with new portable PCs and update their existing computer labs with new technology including smart boards, a laser printer, and headsets.

BGE's Wires Down Video Challenge is geared toward elementary schools in its central Maryland service area. Originally produced in 2000, the Emmy Award-winning BGE "Wires Down" commercial with its "do not, do not, do not touch" melody aims to help raise awareness of electricity hazards, especially among young children. This year, a record number of votes - more than 100,000 - were cast during online voting in April for the 21 videos that were submitted from across central Maryland.  

BGE will award a total of $31,000 to these winning schools:

• BGE Star Power ($10,000): Northwood Elementary School (Baltimore City)
• BGE Spotlight Award ($5,000): Fountain Green Elementary School (Bel Air)
• Cast 'n Crew Award ($3,000): Red Pump Elementary School  (Bel Air)
• Director's Cut ($3,000): Our Lady of Hope St. Luke (Dundalk)
• Music Maestro ($3,000): Spring Garden Elementary School (Hampstead)
• Screen Gem ($1,000):
• Anne Arundel County: Monarch Global Academy (Laurel)
• Baltimore City: The School of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (Baltimore City)
• Baltimore County: St. Joseph School Fullerton (Baltimore)
• Carroll County: Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary School (Union Bridge)
• Harford County: Riverside Elementary School (Joppa)
• Howard County: St. Louis School (Clarksville)

• Special Judge's Panel Award ($1,000): Summit Park School (Baltimore)
• Rock the Vote Award (Backpacks with school supplies): St. Louis School(Clarksville)

To date, BGE has awarded close to $205,000 to 51 elementary schools across its service area in central Maryland with the Wires Down Video Challenge. For more information on the contest and for a complete listing of winning schools and submitted video entries, visit bgevideochallenge.com.
 

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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to safe and reliable energy delivery to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland.  In the J.D. Power 2017 and 2018 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study ^SM  BGE was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Business Electric Service in the East among Large Utilities. In addition, in the J.D. Power 2018 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study ^SM   BGE received Best in Customer Satisfaction with Business Natural Gas Service in the East. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube  and Flickr.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (or "BGE") received the highest score in the East Large segment of the 2018 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study and the East Region of the 2018 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study of electric and gas utility customer satisfaction among business customers. Visit jdpower.com/awards.