​BALTIMORE (Feb. 17, 2021) – BGE is closely monitoring the weather and preparing for the winter storm that is forecasted to bring snow and ice to Maryland starting early Thursday morning and continuing into Friday morning. BGE is prepared to respond to any potential service interruptions that may be caused by the winter storm, which could bring tree limbs down onto power lines and electric delivery equipment. BGE has secured additional crews from its sister utility ComEd in Chicago and other utilities to assist with restoration work should it be necessary.

"BGE urges our customers to prepare for the possibility of power outages, which could be extended as major snow and ice can cause road conditions that impact the arrival times of crews working to restore service," said Tamla Olivier, BGE's chief customer officer. "The safety of our customers and our employees is always our top priority."

The primary concern for this storm in Maryland is the potential for ice accumulation. Trees and limbs weighed down by ice can damage power lines. Vehicle accidents involving utility poles along icy roadways are another source of power outages. Stay home if you do not have to go out and use extreme caution on roadways if you do travel. BGE works closely with municipal partners to clear roads for access to downed lines, but restoration progress can be delayed by icy, snowy conditions. The regional grid operator, PJM, also has forecasted more than adequate electric supply standing by to meet peak power demand this winter.

BGE asks all customers, including those with smart meters, to report any outages in any of the following ways:

• Online, at BGE.com
• BGE's free mobile app, available at the Apple Store or Google Play
• Text message, sent to MyBGE (69243)
• Phone, by calling customer service at 877-778-2222
  

These reporting services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To sign up for email and text notifications, visit BGE.com/alerts.

As a reminder, fallen overhead power lines should never be approached or touched. Immediately call BGE at 877-778-2222 to report the downed wire. If an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle, and warn others not to touch the vehicle or the wire. Call emergency services immediately.

Customers with special needs, such as those who may be elderly, disabled or dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should have alternate arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage.

BGE's restoration priorities are public safety issues and critical facilities, such as 911 centers, hospitals and pumping stations. Restoration is then generally scheduled so that the greatest number of customers can be restored as quickly and as safely as possible.

BGE requests that customers identify the location of outside utility equipment such as natural gas or electric meters that could be covered in snow and may be damaged during snow removal. Please use a broom or brush to gently clear the area around meters of anything blocking it, including debris, ice and snow. Do not melt ice or snow on meters with a heat source, and do not chip or scrape ice. It is also important to remove icicles that hang over the meter and can drip freezing water that may damage equipment.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and impact our central-Maryland community, we want to reaffirm with you our commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers, employees, and contractors. Safety is our top priority. We have implemented important procedures to prioritize the health of our community. All BGE employees and contractors have been instructed to practice safe social distancing and to follow other health and safety best practices consistent with CDC guidelines.

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BGE is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility, providing safe and reliable energy delivery to more than 1.3 million electric customers and more than 680,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company was founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and remains headquartered in Baltimore City to this day. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Engage with the latest BGE stories on bgenow.com and connect with BGE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.