When adverse weather affects our service area, BGE is prepared. If you experience a power outage or need to report a downed wire, please call 877.778.2222. BGE asks all customers, including those with smart meters, to report their outage. Outages may also be reported online, by texting OUT to MYBGE (69243), and via BGE’s free mobile app available today at the Apple Store or GooglePlay. BGE crews work as safely and quickly as possible to restore power.
For Immediate Release
Contact
Richard Yost
richard.yost@bge.com
BALTIMORE (Feb. 7, 2019) – BGE customers again benefitted from the company's commitment to providing quality electric power in 2018. Continued investments in electric system upgrades, new innovative technologies, and the company's dedicated employees have combined to reduce the average length of a service interruption by 50 minutes since 2012.
"Record rainfall in Maryland made 2018 a challenging year and I'm proud that our people were able to deliver reliable and safe electricity to our customers during difficult circumstances," said BGE President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen Woerner. "Our performance also shows the true value of investing in system modernization, as our newer infrastructure and smart grid technologies allowed us to better manage the potential effects of adverse weather."
Despite 2018 being the wettest year in Maryland's history, the average number of interruptions experienced by customers was the fourth lowest rate in BGE's history. When customers did experience an outage, BGE restored power at the second fastest rate ever. During the past 10 years, the number of electric outages has decreased 22 percent and outage length has been reduced by 40 percent.
The company actively explores innovative technologies that can improve system reliability. Examples include using drones to enable more efficient equipment inspections, installing specialized equipment that can automatically restore service or isolate damage, and providing storm restoration staff with mobile apps that help them identify and get to jobs faster.
BGE invested approximately $1.1 billion in the company's electric system operations and maintenance and infrastructure improvements in 2018. In total, the company has invested more than $9 billion in gas and electric infrastructure since 2002 and will invest $5.3 billion during the next five years.
The company continues to share best practices and resources with its Exelon sister utilities: Atlantic City Electric, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco.
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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 StudySM 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 StudySM 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, 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.
