BGE encourages customers to join in the effort to recognize this global effort

BALTIMORE (March 24, 2017)  - BGE is encouraging customers to power down in celebration of Earth Hour, 8:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, March 25, and join millions across the world in this global effort. Earth Hour is the world's largest annual voluntary environmental action event to raise awareness about climate change.

In addition to turning off lights during Earth Hour, BGE customers can take a number of steps to save energy and money and the environment year round through the BGE Smart Energy Savers Program©, including:

• Schedule a Quick Home Energy Check-up at www.BGESmartenergy.com with an energy efficiency professional to evaluate insulation, heating and air cooling systems, lighting, appliances and more;
• Use a programmable thermostat;
• Caulk and weather strip windows and doors;
• Turn lights off when you leave a room;
• Close blinds/shades/drapes in the summer and leave them open in the winter;
• Use energy-efficient appliances: When shopping for appliances such as refrigerators, look for the ENERGY STAR® label, and purchase the most affordable energy efficient unit.

Before customers turn their lights back on this Earth Hour, they should take a moment to replace energy-wasting incandescent light bulbs with new LED lightbulbs, which typically use 75-90 percent less energy and last about 25 times longer. Through BGE's Smart Energy Savers Program, customers can receive instant in-store discounts on select ENERGY STAR® certified LED lightbulbs.

BGE's sister utilities, Atlantic City Electric, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO and Pepco are also participating in recognizing this global event. 

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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. Headquartered in Baltimore, BGE delivers power to more than 1.25 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. 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.