Customers are urged to keep exterior vents clear of snow to prevent back up of any exhaust fumes.

BALTIMORE (Jan. 24, 2015) – Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) crews, with assistance from out of state utility workers, have been working around the clock to restore service to customers who lost power following the winter storm that affected the area this weekend. At the height of the storm, the peak number of customers experiencing outages was approximately 5,500. Customers were back in service in about two hours on average. As of 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, BGE has restored service to nearly all of the approximately 12,000 customers who lost power on Friday and Saturday. All remaining customers affected by this weather system should be restored to service by Sunday afternoon.

BGE has released many of the crews who came from 15 states to provide assistance, including crews from sister utility ComEd in Chicago. “We were in preparation mode for several days leading up to the storm, so we were able to start restoration efforts as soon as our customers began experiencing outages,” said Rob Biagiotti, vice president and chief customer officer for BGE.

“While the forecast called for heavy snow and high winds, which can make for very challenging operating conditions, we were fortunate not to experience the worst and crews were able to keep working. We are very appreciative of the mutual assistance program and the more than 1,000 utility workers who joined us from around the country to help put our customers back in service.”

The company urges customers to be aware of these important tips when there are several inches of snow on the ground:

• Keep exhaust vents for natural gas appliances like water heaters, furnaces and fireplaces, clear of snow and ice, an important safety precaution in preventing buildup of carbon monoxide. 
• Use caution when clearing snow, especially when using mechanized equipment plows and snow blowers in areas where utility equipment such as meters, gas piping, and ground mounted transformers may be covered by snow. 
• Keep outside meters clear of ice and snow by using a broom or brush to gently clear the area around the meter.
• Do not melt ice or snow on meters with a heat source, and do not chip or scrape ice. These methods can damage or break the meter. It is also important to remove icicles that hang over the meter and can drip freezing water that may damage equipment. 

For additional tips on staying safe during and following a storm, visit bge.com Customer should also report any new outages, downed wires, or damaged equipment to BGE at 877.778.2222 or by visiting bge.com online or via a mobile device. Customers can also track the status of BGE’s outages on the online outage map.

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