BGE Launches 'The Adventures of Captain Mercaptan' Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge for Elementary School Students

BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) announces the launch of the 2015 ‘Adventures of Captain Mercaptan, BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge,' as a creative and engaging way to educate school-aged children on the importance of natural gas safety. Now through March 15, public and private elementary schools across BGE's service area are invited to work with their students in kindergarten through fifth grade to submit hand-drawn comic book covers featuring BGE's natural gas safety hero, Captain Mercaptan, for the chance to win up to $10,000 to fund a school enrichment program. The downloadable entry kit is available online now at BGEGasHero.com. Captain Mercaptan takes his name from “mercaptan,” the safety additive that BGE and other gas utilities add to normally odorless natural gas to give it a distinctive, easy-to-detect smell.

“BGE has a long-standing commitment to ensuring public safety and supporting educational initiatives in our communities,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer, BGE. “BGE's commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable natural gas system begins with educating our customers and their families about living with and near this important energy source. Just like BGE's Wires Down Video Challenge, which aims to educate children about the importance of electric safety, the ‘Adventures of Captain Mercaptan' BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge encourages children to use their creativity, while learning about the importance of gas safety. We are excited to see the depictions and identities created for this year's Captain Mercaptan Challenge.”

Eligible schools will have an opportunity to win the following awards:

• BGE Captain's Award - $10,000
• BGE Hero Award - $5,000 for winners in Kindergarten – Fifth Grade (one winner, per grade)
• BGE Spotlight Award (for the drawing with the most online votes) – BGE backpacks full of school supplies and safety gear

Submissions will be accepted now through March 15. Starting March 23, entries will compete against each other during a two-week online public voting period. The winning schools will be announced in early May 2015. For more information, including official rules, downloadable entry kit and helpful tips, visit BGEGasHero.com.

In addition to the Captain Mercaptan Challenge, BGE provides schools and students with energy safety and other educational materials on safety, including classroom lessons, teacher guides, experiments and games – all of which are available on our e-Smart Kids website.

BGE launched the Captain Mercaptan Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge last year and awarded $35,000 to schools across central Maryland. Schools used the winning grants to enhance school enrichment projects and improve learning environments for the students at their school.

BGE traces its roots back to 1816 and the first gas utility in North America. Today the company provides safe, reliable natural gas service to more than 655,000 gas customers in central Maryland. Customers are reminded to immediately contact BGE at 1.800.685.0123 from a safe location if they have any questions or concerns about natural gas. For more information on natural gas safety or the Captain Mercaptan BGE Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge, visit bge.com. Gas safety tips are available at bge.com/naturalgassafety.

BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland's largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company's approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation EXC, the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

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