BGE: Prepare for Outages

The utility says heavy rain and wind in the next few days may lead to outages in central Maryland.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) is warning customers in the central Maryland area to prepare for weather-related outages as an approaching weather system is forecasting heavy rain Thursday night coupled with high winds Friday and Saturday. In a statement issued by spokesperson Rachael Lighty Thursday morning, the utility said it was “proactively preparing” for outages, and directed customers to online tools for “enhanced customer service” tools. “BGE continues to monitor the forecast high wind and heavy rain, which is expected to begin with rain on Thursday afternoon,” Jeannette Mills, vice president and chief customer officer for BGE said in the statement. “This expected weather brings the potential of trees falling onto power …

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Still In the Dark? Dancel Family Center Y Offers Help

There are still several hundred customers without power. The Y has them in mind.

As of 4 p.m. Thursday, there were more than 500 customers in Howard County without power according to BGE's website. For residents that need a shower, want to charge their electronics or just want to warm up inside, the Dancel Family Center Y is offering its services. In addition to the Ellicott City location, the Family Center Y locations will be open for people in need of services: For more information, visit www.ymaryland.org.

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BGE Reliability 'We Thought it was Just Us'

Residents testified Tuesday night about their experiences with power outages.

While many of the people testifying about BGE’s reliability in Howard County were familiar faces at Tuesday’s public hearing, some new perspectives came to the forefront, too; particularly the business perspective. “Our business is to help small businesses solve technical problems,” Kristy Mumma said of the Columbia-based company Stewart Technologies, Inc. “But we’re having technical problems of our own due to frequent, unexplained outages.” About 20 people signed up to testify – all in favor of CR134, which would create a resolution on behalf of the County Council, asking the Public Service Commission to initiate a second investigation into BGE’s reliability in Howard County in neighborhoods not mentioned in the investigation currently …

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Testify About BGE's Reliability Tuesday

A bill requesting a new investigation into BGE is on tonight's public hearing agenda.

Howard County residents who believe that they are receiving unreliable service from BGE can testify Tuesday at the County Council's public hearing. On the schedule for the hearing is CR134-2012 (PDF), a bill sponsored by Councilwoman Courtney Watson and co-sponsored by members Calvin Ball and Jennifer Terrasa. The bill requests that the Public Service Commssion (PSC) investigate BGE's reliability into certain neighborhoods in Ellicott City and that the PSC require the utility to disclose outage information to county officials after 24 hours. Read full coverage of BGE reliability and the PSC investigations The PSC is already investigating BGE's reliability in Font Hill, Dunloggin, Valley Mede and several nearby neighborhoods after resident …

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Public Service Commission Ready to Hear Storm Stories Wednesday

Follow-up to June storm is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the George Howard Building.

The Public Service Commission is hosting a public hearing in Ellicott City Wednesday evening, one of several statewide so citizens can discuss utility company responses to the devastating June 29 storm. In Maryland, it took BGE eight days to restore power to the 748,000 customers whose service was knocked out, 62 percent of its statewide customer base. In July, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and other county leaders sent a letter to the Public Service Commission, which regulates BGE, asking that it require utility companies to make operational improvements. The Howard County hearing will be at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, in the George Howard Building. Other hearings are scheduled for Baltimore on Tuesday, Aug. 14; and Towson, on …

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Derecho Report: BGE Surprised by ‘Freak Storm’

'It is important to note that no utility east of the Mississippi River could have anticipated the raw strength of this storm system.' BGE report.

Derecho Report: BGE Surprised by ‘Freak Storm’

'It is important to note that no utility east of the Mississippi River could have anticipated the raw strength of this storm system.' BGE report.

The unpredictability of the June derecho was an important factor in the scope and length of power outages across BGE’s service area, according to a new report filed with the state. BGE filed its Major Outage Event Report with the Public Service Commission on July 30 as is required by Maryland law after a "major outage event." The derecho, which hit on June 29, left more than three quarters of a million Maryland customers in the dark – 62 percent of BGE’s customer base in Maryland.  Focus on BGE's response intensified after a letter sent by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman and six other elected municipal heads. In it, they said BGE refused to give them specific outage information directly after the storm hit, and that the utility generally…

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Storm Blows Through, Knocks Out Power

A brief storm with heavy winds left some Howard County residents in the dark.

Roads were closed and the lights were off in some areas of Howard County Thursday night after a brief, but blustry storm. According to data from the Old Line Weather Station, winds gusts reached about 30 mph at times and just about a tenth of an inch of rain hit the ground. At about 11:45 p.m., the rain had stopped, winds had calmed and the power was off for about 940 BGE customers in Howard County; BGE had by that time restored power to more than 1,800 additional customers who had lost power during the storm. BGE asks customers to report outages at 877-778-2222. Did you lose power? Let us know where in the comments. On Facebook, Danielle Scarbrough said a downed wire led to the closure of Frederick Road near the intersection with MD Route…

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What Not To Say to Neighbors Still Without Power

Five days without electricity provided several lessons in maintaining civility.

Power was finally restored to my Baltimore County home last night. After having gone without electricity since Friday, my wife and I have learned a few lessons along the way. Chief among them are what not to say to neighbors still without power (along with civilized responses that served us well when we were Al Pacino-frustrated about being in the dark).   1. "We never actually lost power." 2. "This must be such an incredible bonding experience for your family."  3. "Is there anything I can do?" (This is actually appropriate if followed with an offer of freezer and bedroom space.)   4. "Do you want me to lend you a fan?"   5. "It really makes you value the simple things in life."   There were plenty of other positive results to emerge from…

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Is it Still Good? Food Safety After the Power Returns

The FDA has a bevy of resources to help you determine if food is salvageable after a power outage.

If, like me, you always seem to stock up on groceries the day of a power outage, you may know the temptations that follow when the power returns. "It looks OK." "Think it's good?" "It doesn't smell bad." Food; how long is it good and when does it need to go?  The answer was likely at one time obvious. Fruits, vegetables, meats -- we know when they've spoiled. Today, however, it can be tricky. Many packaged, processed foods last longer than their fresh-off-the-tree counterparts, but how much longer? About 2,800 Howard County residents are still in the dark after last Friday's storm, according to BGE, but power (and refrigerators) have been turned back on for more than 119,300 residents. The good news is that the Food and Drug Administration…

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Brandie Jefferson

3:07 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012

Good point, Mike. On a "normal" day, I don't even know where I'd go to get dry ice. I bet someone will tell me ... Also, I don't have a thermometer for my fridge/freezer. Is that something most people have on hand?   more ›