BGE Announces Wires Down Video Challenge Winners and Presents $21,000 in Funding at Elementary Schools Throughout Central Maryland

BGE Announces Wires Down Video Challenge Winners and Presents $21,000 in Funding at Elementary Schools Throughout Central Maryland

Please include the attached press release and photo in upcoming news. To view the grand prize winner, Vincent Farm Elementary School’s video, visit bgevideochallenge.com or click here: http://bgevideochallenge.com/?video_id=25.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BGE Announces Wires Down Video Challenge Winners

and Presents $21,000 in Funding at Elementary Schools

Throughout Central Maryland

Twenty-nine elementary schools from across central Maryland created renditions of BGE’s original ‘Wires Down’ commercial for a chance to win up to $10,000 to fund school enrichment projectsBGE Wires Down Video Challenge will become an annual event to help  promote electric safety among elementary school children

BALTIMORE, Jan. 17, 2013 – Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) <http://www.bge.com/Pages/default.aspx>  is pleased to announce that it has awarded $21,000 in funding for enrichment projects to eight elementary schools in its central Maryland service area for their creative submissions in the BGE’s Wires Down Video Challenge. The eight winning schools and their videos were selected from a field of 29 participating elementary schools and a total of 30 videos. 

“BGE congratulates all of the winning schools in our Wires Down Video Challenge and applauds the efforts of the students and teachers of each school that participated,” said Jeannette M. Mills, vice president and chief customer officer for BGE. “We were impressed by the creativity and time that the students and teachers put into the videos. We enjoyed all of the entries, which certainly underscores to us what smart, creative students and supportive teachers we have in our service area. We launched our Wires Down Video Challenge, which was based off our original ‘Wires Down’ commercial, to help educate customers about the dangers associated with downed power lines, especially children who may be unaware of the safety hazards.”

As a result of the strong support of BGE’s first Wires Down Video Challenge, BGE has decided to make this an annual contest, launching each fall. BGE encourages everyone to look at all of the videos submitted in this year’s contest by visitingbgevideochallenge.com <file:///C:\Users\e12682\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\QK4FQU83\bgevideochallenge.com> . BGE looks forward to seeing what the schools and students throughout central Maryland come up with next year.

Vincent Farm Elementary School, White Marsh, received $10,000 and was named the Gold Prize Winner in BGE’s Wires Down Video Challenge. The Odyssey School, Stevenson, was named the Silver Prize Winner and received $5,000. The Bronze Prize Winners, each receiving $1,000, were Carroll Lutheran School, Westminster, Hollifield Station Elementary School, Ellicott City; Magnolia Elementary School, Joppatowne; Marley Elementary School, Glen Burnie; Midtown Academy, Baltimore City; and Saint Ursula School, Parkville.

In fall 2012, BGE launched its first-ever Wires Down Video Challenge <http://bgevideochallenge.com/> , which was open to all elementary schools in its central Maryland service area. The challenge involved the students creating their own rendition of BGE’s popular “Wires Down” electric safety commercial <https://www.facebook.com/myBGE> . Originally produced in 2000, the Emmy award-winning commercial with its “do not, do not, do not touch” refrain helps to raise awareness of electricity hazards, especially among young children. The Wires Down Video Challenge was created to provide educators with a fun and creative way for students to not only learn about electric safety, but to also share that information with their families and friends, while promoting teamwork and school spirit at the same time. Schools had the opportunity to win up to $10,000 in funding for school enrichment projects. The videos were posted on the contest website, bgevideochallenge.com <file:///C:\Users\e12682\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\QK4FQU83\bgevideochallenge.com>  and more than 65,000 online votes were cast to determine the schools moving to the second round of voting. Of those schools, a panel of judges selected the eight winning schools. To view the submitted video entries, please visit bgevideochallenge.com<file:///C:\Users\e12682\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\Content.Outlook\QK4FQU83\bgevideochallenge.com> .

BGE has a long-standing commitment to both public safety and supporting educational initiatives in the communities in which it serves. The Wires Down Video Contest strongly ties supporting the students and families the company serves by providing funding toward education enrichment projects, but it also reinforces the importance of electric safety to our schools, our customers and their families.

Customers are always reminded to stay away from downed power lines and to report them immediately by calling1.800.685.0123.  Customers are encouraged to review and share the following electrical safety information with their families:

·         Assume that all overhead wires are energized at lethal voltages. Never assume that a wire is safe to touch even if it is down, appears to be insulated or if power is out at nearby premises.

·         Never touch a fallen overhead power line. Call BGE to report fallen electrical lines. 

·         Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead wires during cleanup and other activities. 

·         If working at heights or handling long objects, survey the area before starting work for the presence of overhead wires. 

·         Likewise, avoid touching anything that may be coming into contact with an overhead wire, like tree limbs or other debris.

·         If an overhead wire falls across your vehicle while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue to drive away from the line. If the engine stalls, do not leave your vehicle. Warn people not to touch the vehicle or the wire. Call or ask someone to call emergency services.

·         Never operate electrical equipment while you are standing in water. 

·         Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless qualified and authorized. 

·         Have a qualified electrician inspect electrical equipment that has gotten wet before energizing it. 

·         If working in damp locations, inspect electric cords and equipment to ensure that they are in good condition and free of defects, and use a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). 

·         Always use caution when working near electricity. 

For more information on wires down and electric safety, visit bge.com <http://www.bge.com/> . 

BGE <http://www.bge.com/Pages/default.aspx> , headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 650,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider with approximately $33 billion in annual revenues.  Like us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/myBGE>  and follow us on Twitter <http://twitter.com/mybge> , YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/baltimoregaselectric>   and Flickr <http://www.flickr.com/photos/mybge> .