​BALTIMORE (Nov. 7, 2017) – Last call for entries! Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) wants to remind public and private elementary schools in BGE's service area that the deadline for entering "The Adventures of Captain Mercaptan^SM, BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge" is Nov. 13. The contest challenges elementary schools in BGE's service area to submit three-panel comic strips, illustrating a natural gas safety message featuring Captain Mercaptan, BGE's fictional natural gas safety superhero.  The contest, now being held in the fall, will award a total of $35,000 to eligible schools. In addition, the teacher from the grand prize winning school will receive a $500 gift card and teachers from the other winning schools will receive $100 gift cards.

Elementary schools are urged to download the online entry kit and read BGE's comic book featuring Captain Mercaptan.  In the comic book, Captain Mercaptan teaches kids how to recognize a natural gas leak and what steps to take when they smell gas.  Captain Mercaptan's name is derived from "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 superhero and his safety sidekicks were designed by elementary school students through the BGE contest. 

Schools are also encouraged to use the lesson plans included in the entry kit at BGEGasHero.com to review natural gas safety concepts and elements of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with kindergarten through fifth grade students, and begin creating their contest entries.  Beginning Nov. 20, entries will compete for votes during a two-week, online public voting period.  The winning schools will be announced in January.  Last year's winner was Windsor Farm Elementary School in Annapolis. To date, BGE has awarded $140,000 to area schools during the first four contests.

Eligible schools will have an opportunity to win the following awards:

• BGE Hero Award - $5,000 for winners in kindergarten through fifth grade (one winner per grade)
• BGE Captain's Choice Award - $5,000 overall top winner among the Hero Award winners, meaning this school receives a total of $10,000
• Rock the Vote (for the drawing with the most online votes) – BGE backpacks full of school supplies and safety gear

Captain Mercaptan teaches children that they can be a hero too if they follow these simple safety tips:

• Use your nose. Mercaptan is a safety scent that BGE puts in natural gas to give it a rotten egg smell.
• Use your ears. Listen for the hissing sound of escaping gas.

• Use your eyes. Look for dirt being blown into the air, dead plants or grass in otherwise green areas, fire coming from the ground or water bubbling and being blown into the air.
• If you detect natural gas, leave immediately.
• Don't attempt to detect the source of the leak.
• Don't use matches or turn anything on (including a cell phone).
• Find a safe place outside and call BGE or have an adult call 800.685.0123.

BGE traces its roots back to 1816 and the first gas utility in North America. Today the company provides safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 650,000 gas customers in central Maryland. Customers are reminded to immediately contact BGE at 1.800.685.0123 from a safe location if they have any questions or concerns about natural gas. For more information on the Captain Mercaptan contest, including future adventures, visit bgegashero.com. Gas safety tips are available at bge.com/CaptainMercaptan.