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.
If you are a PeakRewards Air Conditioning program participant, you are guaranteed to receive your monthly PeakRewards credit (June-September). If you choose to participate in an Energy Savings Day and reduce your electricity usage, you can earn a bill credit of $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour saved compared to your typical usage.
If you participate in both, you will receive whichever credit is higher each month. Additionally, your PeakRewards device will be cycled up to 50% on Energy Savings Days, regardless of your chosen cycling level. You are allowed two overrides on Energy Savings Days. However, during emergency cycling events, you will be cycled up to your chosen level (50%, 75% or 100%) and overrides will not be permitted.
On the Energy Savings Day, “SAVINGS” will be displayed across the top of your thermostat or the light on your outdoor switch will glow red when you are being cycled.
Customers who have enrolled in the Connected Rewards program will have the temperature adjusted on their thermostat up to four degrees higher than its set point on Energy Savings Days. This helps to reduce peak electric demand and keep down the cost of electricity for all customers. Before the event begins, these customers may have their home precooled up to three degrees to ensure it stays comfortable during the event.
If these customers participate in Energy Savings Days and take measures to reduce their energy usage, they can receive a bill credit of $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour saved compared to their typical usage. They will also receive their annual Connected Rewards $50 gift card (per thermostat) at the end of each summer.
BGE does not send advance warning to Connected Rewards participants before Adjustment Events but they can expect to receive a notification ahead of Energy Savings Days. Customers may also notice an energy savings message on their thermostat screen on in the thermostat app on their phone while the event is occurring.
Customers can opt out of any event simply by adjusting the temperature on their thermostat screen or in their app.
Overrides may be scheduled in advance or on an Energy Savings Day by logging into PeakRewards Online Access through BGE.com/MyAccount or by calling 1-888-309-7325.
BGE is required to activate the PeakRewards program when the peak demand for electricity is expected to surpass supply to avoid potential brownouts or blackouts in the area. If an emergency event is called on an Energy Savings Day, you will be cycled to your chosen participation level (50%, 75%, or 100%). You may not override your participation during an emergency event.
If an emergency cycling event occurs on a day you selected an override, the override will be canceled and you will be cycled up to your chosen cycling participation level (50%, 75% or 100%) during the event. During an emergency event the following tools will be temporarily unavailable via PeakRewards Online Access:
For more information about the PeakRewards program, visit BGEsavings.com.
