Baltimore Gas and Electric
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Utility |
| Founded | June 17, 1816 |
| Founder | Rembrandt Peale |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
Area served | Central Maryland (including Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Harford, and Howard counties) |
| Products | Natural gas and electricity services |
Number of employees | 3100 |
| Parent | Exelon Corporation |
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, stands as Maryland’s foremost utility provider for both gas and electricity. In 1999, BGE launched the holding entity Constellation Energy, which Exelon later acquired in 2012.
Based in Baltimore, BGE serves a customer base exceeding 1.2 million electric accounts and more than 650,000 natural gas accounts throughout central Maryland. Employing roughly 3,100 individuals, the company ranks among the top 15 private employers in the region.
History
The "Gas Light Company of Baltimore" was founded on June 17, 1816, by artist and businessman Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860), following his demonstration of gas lighting at his museum on Holliday Street. This enterprise was the first gas utility established in the Americas. The inaugural streetlamp was installed at the intersection of North Holliday and East Baltimore streets on February 7, 1817. By the following year, 28 gas lamps illuminated parts of the city, with the Belvidere Theatre becoming the initial public structure lit by gas. Over time, the company enhanced its operations through advancements in piping systems, metering technology, and mechanical innovations. By 1851, Baltimore had incorporated gas lighting into municipal facilities such as public markets, and by 1870, the utility served more than 15,000 customers.
Safe Harbor
Formed in 1930, the Safe Harbor Water and Power Corporation undertook the development and operation of the Safe Harbor Dam. At that time, Baltimore Gas and Electric—then known as Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company of Baltimore—owned two-thirds of the venture, with Pennsylvania Water & Power Company holding the remaining one-third. Completed within two years at a cost of $34 million, the dam included seven generating units with a combined capacity of 230 megawatts. This initiative broadened BGE’s generation capabilities and solidified its role as a key player in regional power infrastructure.
Post WWII
In 1955, the company adopted the name Baltimore Gas and Electric and later embraced the abbreviation BGE during the 1990s.
Following approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission for Exelon's acquisition of Pepco Holdings in 2015—finalized in 2016—BGE now operates alongside Maryland's second and third largest electric utilities under unified management.
Controversies
A report from the Public Service Commission concluded that BGE did not adequately maintain or operate its facilities safely after a gas explosion occurred in Columbia, Maryland in 2019. This incident resulted in the destruction of a commercial building spanning 57,000 square feet.
2020 gas explosion
On August 10, 2020, a natural gas blast in Reisterstown Station, Baltimore, destroyed three residences, causing two fatalities and injuring seven individuals. Representatives from BGE indicated that the exact cause remained undetermined.
Operations
BGE provides electric service across Baltimore City and several Central Maryland counties, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Harford, and Howard.
The company collaborates within shared-crew networks throughout the southeastern and mid-Atlantic regions, often dispatching teams for power restoration following significant weather incidents such as the June 2012 derecho and Hurricane Sandy. In the aftermath of Sandy, BGE successfully restored electricity to more than 300,000 customers.
BGE has put forward proposals for microgrid initiatives aimed at improving grid reliability during power outages; however, these proposals were declined by the Maryland Public Service Commission in 2016.
Beginning in 2012, BGE initiated the replacement of traditional analog meters with smart meters to lower grid maintenance expenses. In 2016, regulatory authorities approved only half of BGE’s requested $48 million rate increase intended to fund smart meter installations, resulting in an average monthly electric bill of $134.33 for customers.
In October 2015, BGE filed a lawsuit against Baltimore concerning increased charges for access to the city’s underground conduit infrastructure. The matter was resolved in November 2016 when BGE agreed to an annual payment of $24 million for use of the city’s 741-mile conduit system.
Community
BGE's Green Grants program awards funding up to $10,000 to environmental non-profit organizations operating in central Maryland. Since its inception in 2013, the program has distributed over $1 million to initiatives focused on Chesapeake Bay conservation, water quality improvement, tree canopy growth, recycling efforts, and neighborhood beautification.
In 2015, BGE introduced a customer-based program encouraging reports of osprey nests near electrical lines. This initiative allowed the company to insulate or relocate nests to safeguard both wildlife and utility infrastructure. During its inaugural year, 23 nests were identified and managed.
To commemorate its bicentennial in 2016, BGE enhanced its Spring Gardens campus in Baltimore with large-scale murals painted on storage tanks and collaborated with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to develop Eddie Murray Field in west Baltimore—demonstrating its dedication to community involvement and environmental responsibility.