BALTIMORE, April 22, 2014 – In an effort to promote natural gas safety among school-age children across central Maryland, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) created the “Who is Captain Mercaptan?” Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge. BGE asked elementary school students to invent an image and identity for “Captain Mercaptan,” BGE’s new fictional natural gas safety hero, for a chance to win up to $10,000 to fund a school enrichment project. Online voting for the top drawings and character descriptions opened on April 21 at BGEgashero.com and continues through May 5.

“The Captain Mercaptan challenge is proving to be a fun way to teach kids about natural gas safety, while tapping into their natural creativity,” said Rob Biagiotti, vice president of gas distribution for BGE. “Now, during the voting phase, everyone gets a chance to determine how inventive students were and continue to help spread the word about natural gas safety.”

The new hero derives his or her, or its name from “mercaptan,” the odorant added by utilities to normally odorless natural gas to make it safer and detectable by scent. Top voted entries will then advance to the final judging round where a panel will review each entry based on creativity, proven understanding of natural gas safety, description of Captain Mercaptan and illustration artistry. Winning schools will be announced in June 2014.

Eligible elementary schools (public and private schools in the BGE service area/grades Kindergarten through fifth) will have an opportunity to win the following awards: 

• BGE Captain’s Award - $10,000 
• BGE Hero Awards - $5,000 for winners in grades K-5 
• BGE Spotlight Award (for the drawing with the most online votes) – BGE backpacks full of school supplies and safety gear

In addition to the Captain Mercaptan Challenge, BGE provides schools and students with energy safety and other educational materials on safety, including classroom lessons, teacher guides, experiments and games – all of which are available on our e-Smart Kids website.

For more information on the Captain Mercaptan BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge, visit BGEgashero.com.

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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.