BGE struggles to restore power for thousands after devastating wind storm

On Monday, February 17, 2025, Maryland experienced a powerful wind storm that created significant disruption across the state. This included over 114,000 customers losing power, with more than 21,000 still affected by Monday afternoon, according to BGE’s outage map. The strong winds not only knocked down power lines but also brought down trees, disrupted traffic, and caused structural damage in urban areas like Baltimore City. BGE reported that their teams were working continuously to restore services, with the aim of returning power to 80% of customers by 11 p.m. on that day. Residents described the chaotic scenes as winds picked up strength around 2 or 3 PM, leading to widespread outages by evening. Reports from locals indicated falling tree branches and downed utility lines significantly hindered access to roads. As darkness set in, many families faced cold conditions without electricity. Alan Shook shared that his Linthicum Heights community of about 50 residents spent a long night without power due to wind gusts overwhelming the area. BGE's spokesperson highlighted the unprecedented nature of this storm, noting the extensive damage with over 2,000 incidents reported, drastically more than what is typically seen in a storm. In Massachusetts, the effects of similar weather patterns were evident as winds lashed the state leading to additional outages, including tree falls onto properties. Reports indicated sustained winds reaching up to 68 mph, resulting in significant structural damage and complicating restoration efforts. Electricians like Patrick Joyce noted an overwhelming workload on Monday morning with many trees and power lines down, indicating that regional utilities, like Eversource and National Grid, were also grappling with substantial outages. The impact of these weather events extended beyond property damage, disrupting normal living conditions and forcing residents to reconsider travel plans. Residents in Boston braved challenging weather conditions despite the dangerous winds, highlighting the resilience amid adversity. The storm's lasting effects poised BGE and other utility companies for ongoing challenges in restoring normalcy, illustrating how damaging weather can transform daily life in a matter of hours.