BGE Press Release - July 6th, 8am

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[NOTE: As of 9:41am, there were still 6,304 customers in Baltimore City without power; 173,092 have been restored.]

BALTIMORE, July 6, 2012 – Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) today announced that it continues to aggressively restore service to the remaining four percent of the more than 725,000 customers – nearly the amount affected during Hurricane Irene – who have experienced power outages since last Friday’s severe weather system. BGE expects this work to continue through the weekend.

In addition, the company will also work to restore service to customers who may have experienced outages last evening due to storms or heat- related issues; however, restoration of these new outages may be delayed due to the company’s continued priority focus on outages related to last Friday’s storm activity. In total, BGE has experienced approximately 90,000 additional outages, unrelated to last Friday’s severe weather system. The company is evaluating the impact of these additional storm and heat-related outages on its overall restoration schedule. As extreme temperatures are forecasted throughout the remainder of the restoration effort, the company urges any customer currently without power to consider visiting one of the several cooling centers located throughout the state. More information regarding specific locations is available on the Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s (MEMA) website and on bge.com.

“As we continue repairs, we are providing information on where crews are working each day,” said Stephen J. Woerner, senior vice president and chief operating officer for BGE. “Specific timeframes for individual customers are only available once we have assessed the scope of the restoration work necessary. However, customers should know that operating conditions, severe weather such as the kind we have seen since last Friday’s storm activity, or the discovery of additional damage may result in work extending into successive days. We appreciate your understanding that our crews are working as safely and quickly as possible to restore your electricity.”

Approximately 4,600 field and support forces are actively engaged in completing the restoration of secondary lines and associated equipment servicing smaller groups of customers. Once addressed, BGE will focus on repairs that are specific to an individual customer’s home or business. This work is often time-consuming, as in many cases, BGE is unable to determine the exact size and cause of an outage until crews arrive on the scene and make a complete assessment of the damage. As the company completes these repairs, customer involvement is crucial.

Customers still without power after their neighbors have been restored should report their outage by calling 1-877-778-2222, as equipment damage may exist beyond the initial repair that BGE is not aware of.

BGE is continually updating its website to reflect general crew locations daily. Customers should also visit bge.com, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Flickr for more information. In addition, the company asks that customers avoid downed wires at all costs and to report them immediately by calling 1-877-778-2222.

As a reminder, BGE customers who may be elderly, handicapped or dependent on electricity for medical equipment, should always have alternate arrangements in place should they experience an extended power outage. Customers using a generator should follow manufacturer instructions and be sure to locate generators in well-ventilated areas. For more information about BGE storm preparation and how customers can protect their families and property, go to bge.com.

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