BALTIMORE, MD – BGE will launch its first Energy Savings Day of the summer on Wednesday, July 17, and asks customers to conserve energy between the hours of 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to earn a credit on their next bill.

BGE typically schedules Energy Savings Days when an increased demand for electricity throughout the Mid-Atlantic region is anticipated. The power supply in the region is expected to be sufficient to meet anticipated high demand. BGE reminds customers to keep safety in mind and only take energy-saving measures as health permits.

BGE customers with a smart meter installed at their home can participate in the Energy Savings Day by voluntarily reducing their electricity usage to earn a bill credit of $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour saved from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

During Energy Savings Days, customers that participate in the PeakRewards℠ Air Conditioning program will have their central air conditioner (A/C) automatically cycled up to the 50 percent level. That means their A/C compressors will be off for half of the time they would normally run. For customers that have a smart meter and participate in PeakRewards, the energy saved by automatically cycling their air conditioner during Energy Savings Days contributes to the overall energy savings that make up the BGE Smart Energy Rewards bill credit.

Customers who participate in both programs are guaranteed to receive whichever credit is greater, either their PeakRewards credit or their BGE Smart Energy Rewards credit on their June through September bills. For more information, visit the Two Ways To Save page.

Customers will usually be notified the day before an Energy Savings Day. These notifications help customers plan ahead to ensure they have time to shift or reduce electricity use on the Energy Savings Day. To ensure customers receive Energy Savings Day notifications, they should sign up for alert notifications, including phone, email, or text alerts, by visiting the My Notifications page.

BGE will also keep customers updated on BGE.com  and on the Energy Savings Day page.

BGE recommends that customers consider the following tips to help save energy and stay comfortable during the Energy Savings Day:

• Raise the thermostat 3 or 4 degrees above the normal setting between 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. if health permits. If you don’t plan to be home before 7 p.m., raise your air conditioner temperature even higher for added savings.
• Consider turning some window units off during the Energy Savings Day, if you have them.
• Use an outdoor grill or microwave instead of the stove or oven.
• Avoid using other heat-producing appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers.
• Draw blinds and curtains in rooms that receive a lot of sunlight.
• Turn ceiling fans on with blades rotating counterclockwise.
• Stay hydrated – drink plenty of water.
• Consider going to a cool place such as a movie theater, mall or pool.
• Relax in the basement where the temperature is typically several degrees cooler than the rest of the house.

In making the announcement, BGE thanked customers for participating in Energy Savings Days and the PeakRewards program, which help reduce peak electric demand and ensure the reliability of the electric delivery system. These programs are a part of the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Act.