BALTIMORE - Today, BGE, Constellation and Exelon are making a commitment of
$1 million to Maryland relief organizations and small businesses. The economic need for both during the current health crisis continues to increase, and these essential funds are being donated to help with the daily operations of these important groups during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is part of more than $5 million in donations in total by Exelon Corporation and its family of companies nationwide to relief organizations in support of communities impacted by the spread of the coronavirus.
"Our commitment to the relief organizations doing heroic work to help our community through the pandemic challenge is an extension of the efforts of our employees to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable energy to healthcare providers, first responders and all of our customers at this critical time," said Carim Khouzami, BGE CEO. "To get through this challenge requires everyone-residents, businesses, government, and relief organizations-to work together. It begins with extending helping hands to the most vulnerable members of our community. We continue to be immensely grateful to our partners in Maryland's relief organizations and support their good work through some of the most difficult circumstances our community has ever faced."
"We've always been committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, and now we are stepping up even more to ease the circumstances for individuals, families, and businesses confronting this pandemic," Jim McHugh, CEO of Constellation, said. "Our efforts, in partnership with Exelon and BGE, will not only contribute to local relief organizations, but also national ones, such as Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the country with an expansive network of food banks. It's an honor to be able to help our customers, neighbors and communities and we will continue to look for ways to support them throughout this crisis."
Nonprofits and Maryland small businesses are continuing to experience unprecedented working disruptions due to current safety protocols, and it is critical that these organizations and businesses have the resources they need to continue operating at the highest levels.
Theses donations include funds to the United Way of Central Maryland's COVID-19 Community Fund, which will support the United Way of Central Maryland 211 Call Center. The 211 Call Center has seen volume more than quadruple with over 1,500 calls requesting information about food, COVID-19, counseling and calming.
The Maryland Food Bank will also receive necessary additional funds to help purchase and safely distribute nutritious food to Baltimore City and all surrounding counties while Maryland communities continue to deal with COVID-19.
The donation to the Baltimore Community Foundation's COVID-19 Evolving Community Needs Fund will aid in rapid response actions during the public health emergency the Maryland region is currently facing. One hundred percent of these funds will go directly to address the negative impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic on the Maryland region's communities, workforce, and vulnerable populations.
Also, a contribution to The Feeding American network will help support the group's ramped-up efforts across the country. The largest hunger relief organization in the United States is partnering with school districts and local government agencies to ensure that the 22 million children who rely on school meals have access to food outside of the classroom; providing emergency grants and food boxes to food banks across the country; and, working to distribute non-food and household items such as cleaning supplies, diapers and personal care products to those in need.
To assist families and businesses experiencing financial stress during this public health crisis, BGE and all Exelon utilities -- Atlantic City Electric, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO, and Pepco -- have suspended service disconnections and are waiving new late payment charges until at least May 1. BGE is also working with residents whose service was disconnected prior to the March 13 service disconnection moratorium to have service restored. Those customers should contact the company at 800-685-0123. As part of the reconnection 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.
Constellation is suspending service disconnections in areas in which it has the authority, and waiving new late payment charges through at least May 1. Constellation is also strongly encouraging customers to use self-service tools online to view bills or make payments, and where it has authority, is also offering deferred payment plans for customers that are directly impacted by the situation. Customers who need assistance should contact the Constellation Customer Care team.
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. The company has robust plans and contingencies to ensure business and operational continuity across a wide range of potentially disruptive events, including extensive preparedness for a major public health crisis. BGE, along with Exelon and its sister utility companies, is also working in close coordination with designated state and local emergency preparedness and health officials, and at the federal level through the Electric Subsector Coordinating Council.
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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.
About Constellation
Constellation is a leading competitive retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. Constellation's family of retail businesses serves approximately 2 million residential, public sector and business customers, including three-fourths of the Fortune 100. Baltimore-based Constellation is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with 2019 revenues of approximately $34 billion, and more than 31,000 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation's cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. Learn more at www.constellation.com or on Twitter at @ConstellationEG.
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EXELON CORPORATION 
