BGE urges Montgomery County residents to prepare early for winter storms, outlines bill help

[Cristina Caicedo Smit]

Baltimore Gas and Electric officials urged Montgomery County residents to prepare early for winter storms and outlined help for customers facing higher heating bills during a virtual community meeting this week.

County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, who hosted the session, said residents should take stock now as hurricane season ends and winter storms approach.

“It’s important for residents to remember to check supplies,” she said, noting that winter outages can mean loss of heat.

Sharlene Burry, an emergency preparedness specialist with BGE, said safety is the utility’s top priority during outages. Residents who see downed wires or damaged equipment should call 911 first, she said.

“We ask that residents never touch or approach electrical equipment that appears damaged, even if it looks like it’s de-energized,” she said, adding that people should stay about 35 feet away.

She said crews restore service in an order similar to emergency triage: transmission lines and substations first, then critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants, then neighborhoods and individual homes.

“The last thing we want to do is give a customer an estimate of two hours” when repairs could take eight to 10, she said.

Brenda Peebles, a BGE community engagement representative, said winter bills rise because of increased energy use, distribution rate changes and higher market costs for natural gas and electricity.

BGE offers payment arrangements of up to 24 installments, due date extensions and budget billing, which sets a predictable monthly amount. Peebles also pointed to state-funded energy assistance and the Maryland-based Fuel Fund.

She said smart thermostats can save about 8% on heating and cooling, and recommended changing HVAC filters every 90 days.

Data Centers Demand

Luedtke asked during the virtual community meeting: “What happens in Maryland in terms of the grid and power draws that is not just contained within Maryland’s borders?”

BGE Energy Assistance Program Manager Cristiano Quijano said the utility believes customers should not bear the cost of power for data centers. Quijano said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently ruled against a Maryland approach requiring data centers to cover those costs.

“As net importers, the price of our electric supply is really dictated by outside forces that are out of our control,” the representative said. “It starts with legislation.”

Montgomery County storm preparation resources will be shared during the winter season in newsletters and on social media.

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