Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), Maryland’s largest energy utility, introduced a program on Tuesday that would provide zero-cost batteries for medically vulnerable customers. If adopted, the program would offer a solution for continuous power to customers who are at risk during power outages.
Baltimore Gas & Electric
BGE’s pilot program would provide utility-owned batteries free of charge to qualifying multifamily facilities with medically vulnerable residents. The batteries would support the grid by participating in a virtual power plant and maintain a state of charge ensuring energy availability for medically vulnerable customers during emergencies. BGE plans to install 3 MW of batteries under this pilot to reach an estimated 300 medically vulnerable customers over two years.
“Baltimore Gas and Electric is making history by introducing this program and bringing awareness to a problem often forgotten by utilities when communities experience power outages, especially during extreme weather events,” said Jake Duncan, Vote Solar’s Southeast senior regulatory director. “By strengthening local energy resilience and expanding access to battery storage, communities gain peace of mind and can protect access to life-saving medical equipment during power outages.”
BGE submitted the pilot proposal to the Maryland Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates utilities. The PSC will review the proposal and is expected to issue an order approving, denying or modifying the proposal in the coming months.
“This pilot was designed with our communities in mind,” Duncan said. “We hope that the PSC recognizes the meaningful benefits it can deliver to the people it serves and approves the proposal.”
The utility has also partnered with United Way to expand its Customer Relief Fund, donating $2.5 million toward certain customers’ energy bills starting this month. These initiatives arrive while BGE is facing criticisms from its customers about rising energy costs, as reported by FOX45 Baltimore.
News item from Vote Solar
