Customer bills will increase effective with usage starting on Feb. 1, 2022 and as authorized by the Maryland Public Service Commission will be partially reduced by certain tax benefits. With the rate adjustment and offsets approved by the PSC, the average residential electric bill will increase by $3.28 per month and the average residential natural gas bill will increase by $2.40 per month. See bge.com/myp for details.
In August 2019, BGE completed work on a section of underground natural gas pipeline that has been located in Baltimore City’s Leakin Park for the last 70 years. It was the first pipeline to bring natural gas to the Baltimore region from interstate pipelines and runs 16 miles from Granite, Md., through Leakin Park into South Baltimore. It is a critical component of the region’s natural gas system that serves more than 680,000 customers in Maryland and was replaced to continue safe, reliable operations. The section that was replaced in Leakin Park represents a more than $41 million investment.
The existing BGE pipeline (yellow line on map), constructed in 1949, is currently located within the 100-year flood plain and runs through sensitive wetland areas of the park along the Dead Run tributary of the Gwynns Falls. The original pipeline will be decommissioned and the several-mile open route above it will be allowed to return to its natural state, including replanting native tree species to restore the tree canopy.
The new route (red line on map) avoids the Dead Run wetlands. Throughout several years of planning prior to construction we worked closely with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, park stakeholders and the surrounding community to select a new route that minimized environmental impacts. While the new route did require the removal of 700 trees to allow for construction and ongoing pipeline inspections and emergency access, it also took advantage of existing open areas along park roadways and trails to reduce tree removals as much as possible.
We value the beauty and environmental benefits of Leakin Park and consider it to be an important natural resource. We recognize the disruption of the construction and have been working with Baltimore City and park stakeholders to identify initiatives to enhance the park for years to come. BGE’s $41 million construction investment includes $4.6 million in direct payments to Baltimore City to mitigate construction impact and enhance the park. Those direct payments from BGE fund:
Above and beyond those direct payments, BGE will perform at its own expense:
In addition, charitable contributions from BGE valued at nearly $160,000 supported improvements to Outward Bound’s rope challenge course located within Leakin Park and the restoration of a 19th century historic chapel adjacent to the pipeline and made 500 trees available to residential customers living near the park.
If you have any questions about the project, please email [email protected] or call 1.800.685.0123 and reference the Granite Pipeline Relocation Project. A member of the project team will respond to your inquiry.
