BALTIMORE -- BGE is taking several major steps to help ensure all residents across its central Maryland service area have access to electric service during this critical time. As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, officials across the country are enacting shelter in place or similar orders to ensure public safety. With more people, including school children, at home during the day, BGE will be working with residents whose service was disconnected prior to the March 13 moratorium on service disconnections to have service restored and help ensure access to safe and healthy environments.

"Having access to safe and reliable energy is not something that the residents of central Maryland should have to worry about at this time," said Carim Khouzami, CEO of BGE. "Any customer can contact us to ensure they have the service they need, to make more flexible payment arrangements or be connected with energy assistance resources if they encounter financial difficulties. The key is to reach out for assistance so that we can find the solution that is right for each customer."

Residents who have had their electric service disconnected should contact the company at 800-685-0123 to begin the reconnection process. As part of this process, BGE Customer Care representatives will work with residents to help identify assistance programs that can supplement bill payment and can help ensure service remains on after this pandemic.

BGE is committed to the safety of its customers, employees and contractors. Communities can be assured that BGE crews will not restore service in unsafe situations. The company will work with agencies, where possible, to identify support to help correct these safety issues before service can be reconnected.

BGE offers payment options, such as flexible payment arrangements including individually tailored payment installment plans. Budget Billing, which averages payments out over a 12-month period, also helps customers manage their monthly energy bill.

Customers may also register for My Account, a web-based interactive tool that provides them with a detailed analysis of their specific energy use and offers ways to save money and energy. Visit BGE.com or BGE's free mobile app to learn more about these programs.

BGE customers can apply for energy assistance through the Maryland Department of Human Services, by contacting a Local Energy Assistance Office, or by contacting the Office of Home Energy Programs. Download our Community Resource Guide for a complete list of resources.

As a provider of the critical infrastructure that powers hospitals and health care facilities, federal, state and local response centers, and the millions of homes and businesses where people live and work, BGE recognizes its foundational role in crisis response plans for the communities it serves. BGE employees and contractors continue to carry out their work, appropriately modified to follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and social distancing practices, to ensure safe and reliable energy. The federal government has designated the energy sector as a critical function and utility employees are recognized as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. BGE coordinates with designated state and local emergency preparedness and health officials, and at the federal level through the Electric Subsector Coordinating Council.

BGE joined with Exelon and Constellation to donate $175,000 to Maryland relief organizations including the United Way of Central Maryland, the Maryland Food Bank, and the Baltimore Community Foundation to support their efforts to provide essential services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is part of a more than $1.15 million donation by Exelon Corporation and its family of companies nationwide to relief organizations to support communities impacted by the spread of the coronavirus.

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BGE, founded in 1816 as the nation's first gas utility and headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest natural gas and electric utility. The company's approximately 3,200 employees are committed to safe and reliable energy delivery to more than 1.3 million electric customers and more than 680,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. In the J.D. Power 2017, 2018, and 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Studies SM BGE was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Business Electric Service in the East among Large Utilities. In the J.D. Power 2018 and 2019 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Studies SM BGE was ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Business Natural Gas Service among utilities in the East Region. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider. Connect with BGE on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and engage with the latest BGE stories on bgenow.com.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (or "BGE") received the highest score in the East Region of the 2019 Gas Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study and the East Large Segment of the 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study of gas and electric utility customer satisfaction among business customers. Visit jdpower.com/awards.

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