All customers with smart meters are eligible for the BGE Smart Energy Rewards® program ​

BALTIMORE (August 28, 2018) – BGE asks its customers to conserve energy during the Energy Savings Day that will be in effect on August 29, between the hours of 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. BGE typically schedules Energy Savings Days when an increased demand for electricity throughout the mid-Atlantic region is anticipated. The power supply in the region is expected to be sufficient to meet anticipated high demand.

BGE customers with a smart meter installed at their home can participate in the Energy Savings Day by voluntarily reducing their electricity usage to earn a bill credit of $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour saved from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Energy Savings Day. During Energy Savings Days, customers that participate in the PeakRewards℠ Air Conditioning program will have their central air conditioner (A/C) automatically cycled up to the 50 percent level, which means their A/C compressors will be off for half of the time they would normally run. For customers that have a smart meter and also participate in PeakRewards, the energy saved by automatically cycling their air conditioner on Energy Savings Days contributes to the overall energy savings that makes up the BGE Smart Energy Rewards bill credit. For more information, visit BGE.com/TwoWaystoSave.

BGE Smart Energy Rewards eligible customers will be notified, usually the day before an Energy Savings Day. These notifications help customers plan ahead to ensure they have time to shift or reduce electricity use on the Energy Savings Day. To ensure customers receive Energy Savings Day notifications, they should update their contact information and methods of communication, including phone, email, or text, by visiting BGE.com/MyNotifications. BGE will also keep customers updated on BGE.com and BGE.com/EnergySavingsDay.

BGE recommends that customers consider the following tips to help save energy and stay comfortable during the Energy Savings Day:

• Raise the thermostat 3 or 4 degrees above the normal setting between 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you don't plan to be home before 7 p.m., raise your air conditioner temperature even higher for added savings.

• Consider turning some window units off during the Energy Savings Day, if you have them.

• Use an outdoor grill or microwave instead of the stove or oven.
• Avoid using other heat-producing appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers.
• Draw blinds and curtains in rooms that receive a lot of sunlight.
• Turn ceiling fan on with blades rotating counter clockwise.
• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water.
• Consider going to a cool place such as a movie theater, mall or pool.
• Relax in the basement where the temperature is typically several degrees cooler than the rest of the house.

BGE thanks its customers for participating in the BGE Smart Energy Rewards and PeakRewards programs, which help to reduce peak electric demand and ensure the reliability of the electric delivery system.  EmPOWER Maryland programs are funded by a charge on your energy bill. EmPOWER programs can help you reduce your energy consumption and save you money. To learn more about EmPOWER and how you can participate, go to BGESmartEnergy.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 power delivery to more than 1.25 million electric customers and nearly 675,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. J.D. Power's 2017 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study^SM ranked BGE highest in customer satisfaction with business electric service in the east among large utilities. 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 onFacebook and follow us onTwitter, YouTube  andFlickr.