Baltimore Gas and Electric officials urged Montgomery County, Maryland, residents at a virtual community meeting to prepare for possible winter power outages now and plan for higher heating bills when cold weather drives up energy use.
At the meeting, BGE combined outage safety guidance with bill-relief options, including payment plans and a tip that can cut heating and cooling costs by 8%.
Here's what to know
According to Montgomery Community Media, the virtual session hosted by Councilmember Dawn Luedtke focused on three steps residents can take before winter demand raises bills: Check emergency supplies, learn how outage restoration is prioritized, and look into assistance programs.
Sharlene Burry, a BGE emergency preparedness specialist, said residents should treat damaged electrical equipment as their first safety concern during an outage and call 911 if they see downed wires or other damaged equipment. Staying back 35 feet was part of that guidance.
"We ask that residents never touch or approach electrical equipment that appears damaged, even if it looks like it's de-energized," Burry said, per MCM.
She explained that crews start with the parts of a system that can restore service most broadly — transmission lines and substations — before turning to essentials such as hospitals and water systems, and only later to neighborhoods and individual homes.
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BGE said that can leave some households waiting, but it is designed to bring power back to the greatest number of customers as quickly as possible. "The last thing we want to do is give a customer an estimate of two hours [when repairs could take eight to 10]," Burry said, MCM reported.
More background
Winter outages can pose greater risks than outages in milder seasons.
Luedtke said residents should revisit their preparedness plans because a winter power outage can also mean losing heat at home.
Brenda Peebles, BGE's community engagement representative, said winter bills are rising for several reasons beyond thermostat use, including heavier energy demand, shifts in distribution rates, and higher market prices for natural gas and electricity.
That combination means some households could face pressure from a greater risk of storm-related disruptions as well as higher monthly bills.
What can be done?
For customers concerned about rising winter costs, BGE said it offers plans that spread payments over up to 24 installments, along with due-date extensions.
Peebles highlighted budget billing, which creates a predictable monthly payment instead of forcing households to absorb sharp seasonal increases.
Residents may also qualify for additional help. Peebles pointed to state-funded energy assistance programs and the Fuel Fund, a Maryland-based source of support for people struggling with utility bills.
BGE also shared one practical way customers may lower costs at home, noting smart thermostats may cut heating and cooling costs by 8%, according to MCM. Residents were also advised to change HVAC filters every 90 days.
Where can I learn more?
For more on outage planning and home energy costs, these stories cover generators, battery-backed home energy systems, and low-cost backup options.
• After repeated outages, one family weighed which generator can power fridge, AC units, and winter heaters.
• Generac is pushing battery and solar backup as outages and electricity costs climb.
• Energy experts say portable solar backup offers one of the cheapest outage safeguards.
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