State officials, including Gov. Martin O'Malley, have been promoting plans to conserve energy and free more power for the region as a way to avert predicted electricity shortages that would lead to even higher prices.
The governor, who spoke yesterday at an event to promote Sun Edison's plans to produce electricity through solar panels on a Howard County-owned former landfill in Ellicott City, noted that consumers would benefit in the month ahead from Constellation's settlement with the state.
"That represents, for the average household, about a 10 percent reduction," O'Malley said. "That's a positive step in the right direction."
Customers can find the $170 credit as a single line item on their BGE bill, listed under the outstanding balance. It is designated as a one-time bill credit. Customers do not need to contact BGE to get the credit, contrary to erroneous e-mails that BGE officials said have been circulating.
The credit will be applied to the electric portion of a single month's bill. Customers with charges less than $170 would get a credit balance toward the next month's bill.
The Maryland Public Service Commission, which approved BGE's proposal for distributing the credits, has been fielding calls from consumers wondering if they are eligible, said LaWanda Edwards, PSC spokeswoman.
"If you are not BGE customers on Aug. 29, you do not receive the credit," she said. "If you move the day before to PEPCO territory, you do not get it. That's imperative for people to know. You must be a customer on that date."
Sun reporter Larry Carson contributed to this article.
GETTING CREDIT
Some key facts about your BGE credit (highlighted in red):
* 1.1 million BGE customers will receive $170 credits on their September electric bills.
* Customers must have active BGE accounts as of Aug. 29 to be eligible.
* A customer who used $207.11 worth of electricity would pay $37.11, while a customer charged $54.52 for gas and electric would have a total credit of $115.48 applied to the following months' bills
