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Some Baltimore County residents have experienced on-and-off power outages for years. Of most concern -- one man relies on the electricity to keep his oygen machine running. Power Tool Industry
Neighbors said they have complained to the Maryland Public Service Commission for years, but with no solution, they are fed up.
The power is on now in the Wynnewood neighborhood of Halethorpe. But when it's off, David Bloom goes out of his way to make sure his friend's oxygen machine keeps working.
Bloom is a full-time caretaker for retired Baltimore County teacher Mark Wheeley who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"He is on oxygen. I have to run chords across the street to keep him alive," Bloom said.
Sue Haas said the outages don't have any consistency.
"We hardly ever lose power on our side of the street, and they are constantly losing power on this side of the street. Sometimes it's not even windy. The threat of wind, and they are out of power, and it can be for days," she said.
Neighbors told 11 News they've had outages 22 times over the past year, impacting 20 homes. One neighbor took the issue to the Public Service Commission twice, once in 2019 and again in 2022.
They have tracked the problem to just beyond their backyards. They said nothing has been done to reduce overgrowth, and they've contacted Baltimore Gas and Electric numerous times to cut back the trees.
"It's getting worse, not getting any better," Bloom said.
Neighbors in Wynnewood said one possible solution is installing underground power lines. It's something BGE has mentioned to them.
But Calvin McKewen said it's well past time for something to be done.
"Why can't they fix it? It's been 30 years since I've been here and it's the same thing," he said.
In an email to the I-Team, BGE said they "evaluated the relocation of overhead electric lines underground and recently completed the extensive design phase for the project at the end of March 2023. The company is now moving the project to the execution and construction phase of the process."
BGE called it a reliability enhancing project and expects to complete it during the summer.
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