CEG Constellation Energy Grp. Common Stock

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Continues to Gear Up in Anticipation of Hurricane Charley BALTIMORE, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) today announced that it continues to pre-mobilize in advance of anticipated heavy rain and strong wind associated with Hurricane Charley, which is expected to reach Maryland early Saturday evening. "We continue to monitor Hurricane Charley and are preparing accordingly in advance of its arrival," said Stephen J. Woerner, manager of electric system operations and planning. "We are especially concerned with Charley's explosive growth during the past few hours. This is an extremely dangerous storm with the potential of producing widespread, extended outages throughout the BGE service territory." More than 750 BGE employees and contractors are on stand-by to perform storm-restoration activities should Charley cause substantial damage to its Central Maryland service territory. Additionally, the company continues to participate in multi-state mutual assistance coordination calls with regional utilities as well as identify what assistance, if any, it might request from out-of-state resources. However, given the continued widespread and unpredictable track of Charley, BGE expects out-of-state resources to remain in high demand. BGE advises its customers to consider making the following preparations in advance of Charley: -- Keep emergency telephone numbers in a convenient location along with the following items: portable radio with fresh batteries, flashlights, bottled water, manual can opener, matches, battery-operated or wind-up clock, canned and dried food, first aid kit, fuses, and Sterno. -- Take steps to keep perishable food and medicine cold, including keeping freezers and refrigerators closed as much as possible. As a reminder, BGE is no longer distributing dry ice in order to better support restoration efforts. -- If dependent upon electric-powered medical equipment, customers are encouraged to make alternate arrangements in the event service is interrupted. -- Disconnect sensitive electronic equipment such as computers and televisions to avoid surge damage. (Surges can occur at other times, so you may want to consider purchasing surge protectors for sensitive equipment). -- Secure or move inside items that may become projectiles during high winds. -- If on well water, fill bathtub with cold water. -- When using a generator, make sure it is properly vented. -- Stay at home or seek shelter if a storm is approaching. If outside, stay away from trees and metal objects. -- To report an outage call BGE at 1-877-778-2222. -- Avoid downed wires and trees. Immediately, report downed wires to BGE and warn others to stay away. Additionally, BGE is providing its customers with the following flood safety tips: -- Proceed with care if experiencing flooding in a basement and or other areas of a home -- Do not enter a room with standing water, particularly if the water covers electrical outlets or electrical cords that are plugged into outlets -- Ensure the electrical system is shut off before entering a flooded room or basement -- Do not attempt to shut off an electrical system where there is standing water or a wet floor -- If experiencing flooding, do not turn on any lights or appliances without having a comprehensive inspection performed by a licensed electrician and also by a registered plumber with a gasfitter's license for gas appliances. BGE is a member of Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG), a Fortune 500 integrated energy company based in Baltimore. Constellation Energy is the nation's leading competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers. It owns and operates a diversified fleet of 35 power plants in 12 states. Additionally, Constellation Energy markets energy nationally and manages the associated risks, providing value-added services for its customers. The company also delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. In 2003, the combined revenues of the integrated energy company totaled $9.7 billion. DATASOURCE: Baltimore Gas and Electric Company CONTACT: Robert L. Gould or Linda J. Foy, +1-410-234-7433, both of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Web site: http://www.constellation.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084087.html

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