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 lines and damaging our electric delivery system causing outages.”
Mills said customers can report outages through the company’s automated outage line at 877-778-2222 or online or on a mobile device on BGE’s website. Customers can also receive updates by following BGE on Twitter and Facebook.
According to BGE’s statement, the company’s newly designed outage map provides the “general location and status” of current outages, including number of customers affected, estimated time of restoration if available, and the status of crews assigned to the repair.
In case of an outage, BGE recommends having a full tank of gas and keeping the following items readily available:
- Flashlights – not candles
- Fresh batteries
- Battery-operated clock radio
- Corded telephone
- Fully charged cell phone
- Non-perishable foods
- Water – one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days for drinking and sanitation
- First aid kit
- Local maps
- Blankets
Hollee Sifford
10:58 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
OH GEEEZ HERE WE GO!!!!
George Helm
11:00 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Is that because of what was reported after the last outages, BGE to bill because they couldn't supply energy after the last storm? Not to worry the PSC will take care of it!
Kiley Saeed
11:44 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Yippee. I can't wait.
Eastsider
11:47 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Just remember their slogan "Were on it" what I have yet to figure out.
BobBaft
10:44 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Their arses, of course. 4 of them plus 4 supervisors standing watching them.
NicoleG
11:49 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Great. Just in time for christmas.
stephanie king
12:21 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
This is BGE's newest tack. Rather than work toward investing in upgrades, they just warn us with every storm, no matter how minor, that we may lose electricity. That way they can say "you can't say we didn't warn you." It's certainly cheaper than them doing what they should be doing. Oh, and of course, they'll stick us with any costs they incur. Sounds like a great deal for them.
Laura M.
12:56 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
yup. as long as their profit margin isn't affected, they don't give a damn about the consumer.
Tim
12:58 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Yep. Cry to the state legislature for monre money/rate hikes so they can afford to do more proactive management of their infrastructure....then go on a nice corporate retreat with the money ;)
Or, quite possibly, this is simply the standard resteraunt tactic of underpromising and overdelivering. At least, overdelivering after intentionally lowering subconscious expectations.
Mind games, folks.
Baltimore Matt
1:58 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Such bs...it is their problem to keep the power on (not ours) and if they don't it's time for some else who will. Furthermore, I don't understand why they would tell folks who live in the city that they need to keep bottled water on hand, the water system here is gravity fed (an if that goes out, it really is doomsday). I generally don't believe in governments taking over corporations but in the case of utilities I believe it is sometimes necessary, especially if they have a monopoly and are screwing up that we have a take over. It is not profitable for the electric company to rebuild their aging grid and truth is the less investment they make the better their balance sheets will look. We need to do something before our power is as unpredictable as India's.
Carl
2:26 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
But it's really difficult for me to believe the government would do a better job.
Baltimore Matt
2:35 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Carl my water runs more consistantly than my power stays on.
FIFA_archived
2:55 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Gravity may have something to do with that.
Carl
3:11 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
While I'm glad your water runs consistently, Matt, it seems like once or twice a week I hear about a water main break on the traffic report.
Leona MacDonald
11:40 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
BOTTLED WATER becaue...the clorination won't work. has nothing to do with not having water..it is not having potable water. If the electricity is out then you can't boil it sometimes....unless you have a gas stove.
Wayne Monroe
3:45 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
BG&E worked better before "deregulation". "Deregulation" must have been a product of the General Assembly because its deregulation in name only. The utility is still highly regulated by the PSC which, it seems, is far from being an independent, objective group.
RJ Teich
5:17 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
So WARNING us makes it ok? When are you going to learn how to keep the power on 24/7 so you don't continue to traumatize your customers?
amark
6:43 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I am sure Owemalley is addressing the issue so I'm very confident everything will be fine, lol.
Zoobie
11:27 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
My Utilties are underground (which suffers outages at every event) maybe thats where the high winds come from !??? I dunno!!!
BobBaft
10:47 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Above ground power lines are the problem. We're using 1950's technology. My neighborhood has underground lines and we rarely suffer outages. When we do, it's from when the above ground lines outside our area fail.