BGE Grid Upgrade Costs Surge to $520 Million, Raising Concerns for Baltimore Customers
A major grid upgrade project by BGE in Baltimore, initially estimated at approximately $105 million, has seen its costs escalate dramatically to an estimated $520 million by September 2026, according to the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel. BGE had previously reported an increase to $407.25 million. The utility paused design and engineering work on the Baltimore Peninsula project in March due to changes in the surrounding development plans, specifically after Kevin Plank’s development company stepped back from future development at the site, though Under Armour remains headquartered there. BGE attributes the higher costs to several factors, including increased labor and material costs, site constraints, engineering and design changes, routing challenges, and a compressed construction schedule. The Office of People’s Counsel has expressed concern that BGE customers could ultimately bear substantial costs if the anticipated commercial growth in the area does not materialize as expected.
