BGE gets award for Hurricane Irene work

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - Baltimore Gas and Electric Company announced that it has been awarded the prestigious Edison Electric Institute (EEI) "Emergency Recovery Award" for their efforts following Hurricane Irene.

This is the second consecutive year that BGE has received the award.

In August 2011, BGE experienced one of the most damaging storms in its nearly 200-year history. Irene brought high wind, heavy rain and severe flooding, causing whole trees and limbs to come down onto the lines and other electricity equipment, resulting in widespread damage.

Electric services was interrupted to approximately 750,000 of BGE's 1.2 million customers. BGE successfully restored service to nearly 90% of its affected customers within 5 days of Irene's passing.

BGE also communicated with customers continuously prior to the storm and throughout the restoration process, providing around-the-clock information and a real-time dialog with the help of social media and the Customer Contact Center, 24 hours a day.

"Hurricane Irene was a massively destructive storm, and BGE did an outstanding job of formulating and executing its emergency preparedness plans to restore service safely and efficiently following the storm's aftermath," EEI President Tom Kuhn said. "BGE had boots on the ground before the storm reached land, and in doing so, proved that they are a company committed to excellence."

The recipients of the annual EEI "Emergency Recovery Award are chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process. BGE was recognized, along with sister Exelon companies ComEd, based in Chicago, and PECO, based in Philadelphia, during EEI's Spring CEO meeting.