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
Rachael Lighty
rachael.lighty@bge.com
Participants voluntarily enrolled in the PeakRewards Air Conditioning program will be cycled up to their chosen level of cycling for the duration of the event
Participants enrolled in the PeakRewards Electric Water Heater program will also be cycled
BALTIMORE, September 17, 2014 – Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) today announced the company is holding a cycling event to test the performance of system operations for its customers enrolled in its PeakRewards program, as required by PJM Interconnect, the electric grid operator for the Mid-Atlantic region. The event is being conducted at the emergency cycling level, meaning that participants who voluntarily enrolled in BGE’s PeakRewards air conditioning program will be cycled up to their chosen level of cycling, 50, 75 or 100 percent, for the duration of the event. The cycling event should have minimal impact to program participants, as temperatures are expected to be mild today and the event is taking place between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., when many program participants are less likely to be at home. BGE continues to work to improve programs and communications to help customers be smart energy managers.
In addition, participants enrolled in the BGE PeakRewards Electric Water Heater program are also part of this in-season cycling event. During the event, customers will have the power to their water heater interrupted and no additional hot water will be produced for the duration of the event. Neither PeakRewards A/C nor Water Heater program participants will be able to override participation.
During a cycling event, the word "SAVINGS" should appear on PeakRewards thermostats inside participants’ homes or a light should glow red on the PeakRewards switch on or near the central air conditioning unit or water heater.
PeakRewards participants who have an email address on file will be automatically notified of cycling events by email. Participants can also sign up to receive event notifications by text message. To update contact information and notification preferences, customers should visit BGE.COM/MYACCOUNT. Participants may also check the PeakRewards Event Central website, BGEsavings.com/PeakRewardsEvent. PeakRewards participants with questions may call the PeakRewards hotline at 1.888.309.PEAK (7325).
Together with BGE, more than 300,000 PeakRewards program participants have helped reduce peak energy demand by approximately 430 megawatts since the program’s inception. That equates to the size of a medium power plant. Participants also received nearly $23 million in bill credits last summer for their voluntary participation in the program.
# # #
BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.