BALTIMORE, MD—Baltimore-area residents could face regular rolling blackouts if the region’s power grid continues to grapple with an inadequate energy supply, a top Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) official warned Monday.
Steven Singh, BGE’s Vice President of Electric Operations, expressed “huge concern” over the growing disparity between energy supply and demand, calling it a “clear and present issue” for Maryland, according to The Baltimore Sun. He said that while BGE has significantly reduced storm-related outages over the past two decades, rolling blackouts — temporary power shutdowns to maintain grid viability — may become necessary if the supply deficit persists.
The energy crunch stems from a combination of factors, including increased customer reliance on electricity due to more electric vehicles and remote work, according to Singh. PJM, the organization overseeing Maryland’s electric grid, told Maryland Matters that market forces and the closure of coal-burning power plants due to climate change policies have also contributed to the supply deficit.
The supply shortage is expected to drive up energy prices, with a Maryland Office of People’s Counsel report from August projecting a $21 increase for BGE customers and an $18 increase for Potomac Edison customers. While BGE customers face the largest hike, the Maryland Public Service Commission has ordered the company to spread out the increase to mitigate the impact on already high summer energy bills, with the full effect to be felt this fall.
Singh also highlighted the significant energy demands of new data centers and artificial intelligence technologies, according to The Sun. He pointed to the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a proposed 67-mile power line through Carroll, Frederick, and Baltimore counties, as a symptom of this broader issue. The $424 million project, slated for completion by June 1, 2027, aims to move supplied electricity to address potential transmission overloads, aging infrastructure, and future demand growth.
However, officials from the three affected counties have opposed the project, citing concerns about environmental threats, increased local energy costs, loss of farmland, and other negative impacts. Singh acknowledged these community concerns but suggested the Piedmont project might be necessary in some areas to balance supply and demand.
Beyond new transmission lines, Singh emphasized the importance of increasing energy supply through distributed energy resources like solar panels. He envisions a future with more localized energy supply and distribution from solar farms and residential panels, which he believes would help balance the grid. Retaining active power plants is also part of the short-term solution, he added, which could ultimately lower Maryland electric bills.
The Public Service Enterprise Group, contracted by PJM for the Piedmont project, must receive a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Maryland Public Service Commission before construction can begin. One hundred twenty-seven entities, including landowners, county governments, and public interest groups, have been granted intervener status in the project’s case, allowing them to present evidence and call witnesses.
The commission will hold a virtual pre-hearing conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss preliminary matters and establish a procedural schedule for the Piedmont project, which will be streamed live on the Maryland Public Service Commission’s YouTube channel.
Separately, Singh noted BGE’s progress in reducing storm-related outages, with the number of outages decreasing by 45% since 2011 and their duration by 58%. He credited automated reclosers and porcelain insulators, which allow the grid to “self-heal” from minor faults and isolate damaged sections, for this improvement.
Photo via Pixabay
