​More than 150 miles of gas mains have been replaced over the last four years of accelerated projects, working toward the goal of enhancing the safety and reliability of the system through the removal of all cast iron and bare steel pipes

BALTIMORE, (Dec. 4, 2017) – During the first four years of BGE's Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement (STRIDE) natural gas system modernization plan, more than 150 miles of gas mains and more than 32,000 service pipes connecting customer properties to gas mains have been replaced with modern, durable gas equipment. The progress has been made possible by Maryland's 2013 STRIDE law, which enabled gas utilities to replace equipment faster by authorizing recovery of some pipeline modernization costs as the work is performed.

Now, approaching the final year of the initial five-year STRIDE plan, BGE has filed a new five-year STRIDE work plan with the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) that further accelerates the pace of the work.

"STRIDE has proven its value over the last four years, allowing us to do more modernization work sooner, in the most financially efficient way for our customers," said Stephen J. Woerner, president and chief operating officer of BGE. "As the nation's first gas utility, we have always placed the highest priority on the safety and reliability of the gas system, and increased investments under STRIDE allow us to continue to deliver on that promise for our customers."  

Since the start of BGE's STRIDE plan, the company has invested nearly $380 million in gas system modernization including an estimated $130 million in 2017.  STRIDE modernization projects range from neighborhood-wide gas system upgrades through Operation Pipeline, gas main replacements along single streets and area-wide projects that replace thousands of service lines that connect customers to the gas mains. These projects are located throughout BGE's service area, including Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Harford, Prince George's, Carroll and Howard Counties.

Natural gas modernization projects have a positive economic impact on the regional economy. To date, more than 850 full-time jobs statewide have been created, 600 of which are on BGE projects.  STRIDE also creates significant environmental benefits as pipe replacements have reduced emissions by more than 1 million pounds of methane – a major greenhouse gas (GHG). Once improvements to BGE's natural gas system are complete, GHG emissions will be reduced by an estimated 210,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year compared to 2013. This equals taking 44,000 cars off the road. 

For more information on BGE's STRIDE program, visit http://marylandstride.com/.

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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE delivers power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $5 billion of output in its service area, supporting more than 9,500 local jobs and producing $923 million in labor income. 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, YouTube  and Flickr.