Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) is the largest natural gas and electric utility in Maryland providing reliable, safe energy to over 1.2 million electric and 650,000 gas customers throughout the state. BGE’s service area stretches 2,300 square miles, which includes Baltimore City and 10 surrounding counties. In addition to providing safe, affordable energy, the company also aids communities by investing in education, culture , and sustainability.
Through its Smart Energy Savers Program, $570 million has been given to customers to aid them in saving money on their utility bills. BGE Electric Rates also has an app on mobile that allows users to report outages, track their usage of electricity, and make payment. Customers can also sign up for a monthly budget billing plan.
BGE has a long-standing tradition of employee volunteerism and charitable giving. Employees can earn points for making smart energy choices. They also earn monthly rewards.
BGE has invested more than $1.8 billion to improve its services and the environment as part of its social responsibility pledge to its employees. Its volunteer programs for employees include environmental and safety programs. They also aim to expand opportunities for historically underrepresented groups.
BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program has also offered $308 million in credit for bills to its customers. This includes rebates on appliances that are energy efficient. Customers are encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint through the purchase of renewable energy options and power from renewable energy providers.
BGE is a member of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey–Maryland (PJM), Interconnection, which permits it to provide energy at affordable rates to more than 1.3million customers in the region. Additionally, it has participated in the Maryland Energy Choice program, which allows customers to select a different energy supplier. More than 40 suppliers are currently accepting new customers.
BGE has invested over $405 million in the past three years to meet customer demands. In the past three years it has also upgraded the distribution lines for 4,000 miles and replaced more than 10,000 gas services. According to the company the residential bills of customers have remained fairly stable over the last decade. However, the prices for energy commodities have risen by 15% between October and May.
BGE’s current rate plans will increase by two cents per kilowatt hour for its electric customers in 2021 and by three cents per kWh to its gas customers. Rate increases will be effective January 1, 2021. BGE cannot request another rate increase prior to December 2023.
BGE rates are set by the Maryland Public Service Commission, who approved its first multiyear rate plan in December of 2020. The Standard Offer Service rates, which is a flat rate service that customers can select from, will remain the same until April 1, 2022. When customers sign up to the standard flat rate service, they pay a price of $0.11 per kWh. Customers who choose the Time of Use rate will pay $0.36 per kWh during the peak hours.
In 2012, the company acquired Constellation Energy. This move led to the formation of the world’s largest fully integrated power pools.