BALTIMORE, (Oct. 25, 2018) – With colder temperatures and the heating season on the horizon, BGE would like to remind customers to familiarize themselves with the natural gas safety tips provided in BGE's natural gas safety brochure which is being distributed to homes and businesses in and around BGE's natural gas service area. Customers should be mindful that households and businesses not served directly by natural gas are still in proximity to BGE's and other operators' gas equipment.

"Many of our customers will be increasing their use of natural gas as cooler temperatures begin arriving in the Mid-Atlantic region so we are asking them to be mindful of natural gas safety now and year-round," said Christopher Burton, vice president of Gas Distribution for BGE. "It's also important for our customers to have their heating systems checked and inspected by a qualified technician to ensure safe and efficient operation."

BGE's natural gas safety brochure is being mailed to all customers. The brochure provides information in English and Spanish, detailing how to recognize and report natural gas leaks. A scratch-and-sniff odor indicator is included that reminds customers about "mercaptan," a safety additive that BGE and other utilities put in natural gas to give it a distinctive rotten egg odor that makes gas easier to detect. The brochure also reminds customers to call Miss Utility at 811 prior to digging anywhere—from large construction jobs to home landscaping and gardening projects.

If you detect a gas leak:

• Leave the building or area immediately and go to a safe place where you can call BGE, toll free, 24 hours a day at 1.800.685.0123.
• Extinguish all open flames. Do not use matches or lighters and do not attempt to light an appliance.
• Do not use any phones, electric switches, thermostats or appliance controls. All of these devices, including battery operated equipment, can cause sparks, and ignite natural gas.
• Do not start or turn off vehicles or motorized equipment. Abandon any motorized equipment you may be operating.
• Do not attempt to find the source of the leak or to repair a leak.
• When you call, BGE will respond promptly to survey the area, perform safety measures, and repair BGE's equipment. There is no charge to investigate a gas leak.
• For more information on natural gas safety and to view an electronic version of BGE's natural gas safety brochure, visit bge.com/naturalgassafety.

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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 more than 650,000 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 on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube  and Flickr.