BGE Warns Of Possible Blackouts After Power Plant Disconnection; Maryland Freedom Caucus Blames State Energy Policies
BALTIMORE — Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE) is asking customers to conserve electricity Monday afternoon and evening to help prevent widespread outages after a power plant unexpectedly disconnected from the utility’s system.
The company said the unplanned disconnection is putting strain on the electric grid. Customers are urged to begin conserving electricity immediately and continue through the evening. BGE is also encouraging residents to prepare for the possibility of a power outage.
“If an outage is necessary, we will make every effort to alert customers in advance,” the utility said in a statement.
BGE has also activated an emergency cycling event for customers enrolled in its PeakRewards Air Conditioning program. Air conditioners will be cycled at 50%, 75% or 100% of their full cycling level for the duration of the event, and customers will not be able to override participation. Those enrolled in the Connected Rewards program may see thermostats automatically adjusted by up to 4 degrees.
Customers with medical or health conditions who require immediate assistance are urged to call the PeakRewards hotline at 1-888-309-PEAK (7325).
Southern Maryland Impact: Calvert County is the only part of Southern Maryland served by BGE. As of 3:51 p.m. Monday, no outages were reported there. The largest concentration of outages remains in Baltimore City and surrounding central Maryland counties.
How to check outage status:
- BGE Outage Map: Visit BGE’s online outage tracker for real-time information, including outage numbers by county and estimated restoration times.
- Text alerts: Text “OUT” to MYBGE (69243) to report an outage or get updates.
- MyBGE App: Use the mobile app to report outages, track restoration or enroll in alerts.
- Phone: Call 1-877-778-2222 for outage reporting and updates.
More information on outage preparedness is available at www.bge.com/outages/preparing-for-an-outage/outage-readiness-and-safety.
Maryland Freedom Caucus Responds
Following the BGE alert, the Maryland Freedom Caucus issued a statement linking the incident to state energy policy. The group said the substation failure tied to the Brandon Shores Power Plant could result in rolling blackouts and argued that “radical, extremist energy policies” from Maryland Democrats and Gov. Wes Moore are contributing to grid instability.
The caucus urged the governor to:
- Keep existing plants open and reopen recently closed facilities.
- End what it called “Green Energy Scam” mandates.
- Eliminate the EmPOWER surcharge.
- Immediately add nuclear energy to Maryland’s Tier 1 options.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!
