BGE has developed a project plan that consists of identifying BGE gas meters inside of garages and relocating them outside and also identifying gas meters already located outdoors that are exposed to vehicular traffic. If necessary in either situation, BGE will then install protective poles filled with concrete, known as bollards. These measures reduce the risk of vehicular damage to the gas meter, helping to ensure safe gas service for you and your property.
The gas meter relocation and installation of gas meter protection will occur at no expense to you.
In September 2015, a natural gas incident occurred in Columbia, Maryland, extensively damaging several townhomes. There were no fatalities. The incident was deemed to be accidental in nature, due to a customer vehicle striking the customer’s gas meter piping located inside the garage and causing a release, build-up, and ignition of natural gas.
As a result of this incident, in early 2016, the Maryland Public Service Commission directed BGE to identify and protect all indoor gas meters exposed to vehicular traffic within five years. BGE has developed a project plan that consists of relocating approximately 6,000 indoor garage gas meters outdoors and, if necessary, protecting them with a bollard along with installing approximately 10,000 bollards at existing outdoor gas meters exposed to vehicular traffic. This work will be completed in all of the counties that BGE provides gas services.
BGE is committed to maintaining a safe and reliable natural gas system. To most efficiently mitigate exposure to meter damage related to vehicular contact or other threats, BGE established a gas meter protection program to move all in-garage gas meters outdoors in an open space, and to protect meters with bollards. BGE also took the following steps:
Identified customers will be contacted by mail, door hangers and phone to arrange appointments for the necessary meter protection work to be completed. If you have been contacted by BGE’s approved contractor, Precision Pipeline Solutions (PPS), please arrange the appropriate times to meet and assess the mandatory work that is required on your property.
Please contact MeterProtection@BGE.com if you have any questions or concerns.
BGE has identified locations in its service territory that will require the necessary meter protection work. The estimated timetable of when we expect to begin work in each county is shown below:
The timeline provided is an estimate as of October 2017. BGE may adjust the schedule asnecessary. Please check this site for any updates in the future.
After BGE’s approved contractor, PPS, is able to coordinate a site survey with affected customers, they will relocate gas meters outdoors and if necessary install a protective bollard. If a gas meter exposed to vehicular traffic is already located outdoors, PPS will only install a protective bollard. Shown below are images of completed meter relocations and bollard installations.
Please refer to our FAQs to help address any questions you may have.
March 2019 (Year 3) BGE Update Letter (PDF)
BGE Gas Tariff (PDF)
Door Hanger (PDF)
Introduction Letter #1 (45 Day Letter) (PDF)
Follow Up Letter #2 (15 Day Letter) (PDF)