BGE Customers Still Angry At Derecho Response

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The derecho storm that blew through Maryland caused power outages across the state. Angry BGE customers want to know why it took more than a week to restore service.

Jessica Kartalija reports frustrated Marylanders are voicing their concerns at City Hall.

Right now, angry residents and their council representatives are discussing how to give BGE feedback on how to better communicate. Those attending the meeting were told that it wasn't a gripe session.

Sky Eye Chopper 13 surveyed the damage left behind by the derecho storm that blew through Maryland June 29. Power outages equal to Hurricane Irene's in 2011 left many in the Baltimore area without power for eight and a half days.

Now, leaders from Baltimore City neighborhoods including Hampden, Roland Park and Ednor Gardens are calling for better communication during these widespread outages.

Statewide, there were more than 1.7 million outages. Roughly 750,000 were BGE customers. More than 15,000 repairs were made by BGE alone when more than 9,200 wires were down.

"We had about 30 minutes of a head's up," said BGE spokesman Rob Gould.

BGE says they were surprised by the derecho's strength and speed and did the best they could to restore power to those in the dark.

"We did it with no notice. We did it with a thousand less utility workers who arrived about two and a half days into the restoration," Gould said.

"I've told my constituents, it's not a gripe session, it's a solution session," said Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke.

"We're committed to trying to communicate better," Gould said.

BGE is committed to ensuring that those in need of power most--hospitals, for example--would get their power back fastest.