Electricity conservation appeal by BGE for customers in the Baltimore region ends following repair of substation disconnections
Baltimore Gas & Electric Faces Unplanned Disconnection and Rate Hikes
Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) customers faced an unplanned disconnection from the company's electric grid on Monday, due to a transmission equipment failure at the Brandon Shores Transmission Substation. This event led to the tripping offline of Talen Energy’s Brandon Shores power units and impacts on Wagner power station near Baltimore.
The incident was not a lack of available power resources but a transmission constraint—a limitation in the infrastructure delivering power—causing concerns over power availability in central Maryland. As a result, emergency repairs were initiated in coordination with PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator.
BGE requested customers to conserve electricity to help reduce demand and prevent wider outages. Approximately 4,000 customers in Howard County experienced a brief, planned power outage lasting about 30 minutes as a precautionary load-shedding measure directed by PJM.
Brandon Shores Unit 1 remains offline awaiting transmission repairs, while Unit 2 and Wagner units could restart if dispatched by PJM. This incident highlighted grid reliability issues in Maryland, with lawmakers expressing concern over the aging transmission infrastructure and supply strain exacerbated by retiring fossil fuel plants and growing demand.
In addition to the unplanned disconnection, BGE increased the average gas bill by 9% and the electric bill by 7% starting Jan. 1, 2022. Some customers have expressed frustration with BGE in the aftermath of these rate hikes.
To help customers manage their energy usage, BGE provided ways to conserve energy, such as keeping an eye on the thermostat, using fans, closing blinds, holding off on using large appliances, and turning off non-essential appliances and devices. The utility company also shared ways to prepare for power outages, including having bottled water, charged electronics, flashlights, extra batteries, and a backup plan for medication or medical equipment.
In response to the disruption caused by the outage, BGE sent a statement acknowledging the inconvenience and expressing appreciation for customers' patience. The company initiated emergency PeakRewards and ConnectedRewards cycling events to help lower load and relieve strain on the grid.
As of now, the portions of the transmission system that were inoperable Monday morning have been restored. BGE has asked all customers to conserve electricity starting immediately and through this evening to reduce the potential for an outage.
- Despite the news about the unplanned disconnection, Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) also increased the average gas bill by 9% and the electric bill by 7% from January 1, 2022, causing frustration among some customers.
- In a bid to cope with the power outages and strain on the grid, BGE shared tips on how to conserve energy, such as keeping an eye on the thermostat, using fans, closing blinds, and turning off non-essential appliances and devices.
- In the midst of the sports season and inclement weather, the unplanned disconnection caused by the transmission equipment failure at the Brandon Shores Transmission Substation could potentially escalate into crime situations like looting or burglary due to the prolonged power outage.
