Harford County Power Outage Guide: Report It, Track It, Stay Warm

by Josh Tessier

If your power goes out in Harford County, report it right away. BGE customers can call 877-778-2222, use the BGE app, or text OUT to 69243 (after you sign up). Delmarva Power customers call 800-898-8042. Then check your company's outage map for updates. If it's freezing and you have no heat and nowhere to go, call the Harford Community Action Agency at 410-612-9909 during business hours, or dial 2-1-1 after hours.

Save this page now. Your phone may be the only light you have when you need it.

Who is my power company?

Harford County homes are served by either BGE or Delmarva Power. Your power bill tells you which one you have. The county lists both on its Snow Events page.

How do I report a BGE outage?

BGE lists four ways in its customer guide:

Call 877-778-2222, BGE's outage line.
Use the BGE app.
Report online at bge.com.
Text OUT to 69243 (MYBGE). First sign up by texting ADD OUTAGE to 69243.

How do I check the BGE outage map?

Go to the BGE outage map. BGE says it shows restoration progress and updates, and the BGE app has it too.

How do I report a Delmarva Power outage?

Call 800-898-8042 any time, per Delmarva's Maryland customer handbook. Delmarva's medical-equipment brochure lists that number for Harford and Cecil counties. You can also report at delmarva.com. Text STAT to 67972 for updates. To use text, send ADD OUTAGE to 67972 to sign up, then text OUT to 67972 when the power goes out.

What if I see a downed power line?

Stay far away. Treat every downed wire like it's live. The county lists these numbers for a downed wire, a pole hit by a car or a tree limb on a wire:

Company	Phone
BGE	877-778-2222
Delmarva Power	800-898-8042

BGE's own customer guide gives a separate downed-line number, 800-685-0123. Delmarva's Maryland handbook says to call 800-898-8042 for wires down. If someone is hurt or there's a fire, call 911.

Who gets their power back first?

After keeping crews and the public safe, BGE restores power in this order, per its customer guide:

Medical and emergency services
Main power lines and equipment that bring back the most customers at once
Individual transformers and smaller lines to single homes and businesses

So if your neighbors have power and you don't, report your outage too. Your home may be on a smaller line.

How do I use a generator safely?

A generator can save your weekend. It can also kill you if you use it wrong. These rules come from Ready.gov:

Run it outside only. Keep it at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages.
Put carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central spots on every level of your home.
Don't use a gas stove or oven to heat your house.

How long will food stay safe?

Keep the fridge and freezer shut. Per Ready.gov, your fridge keeps food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer holds for about 48 hours. Throw out food that has been at 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more.

Where can I go to get warm in Harford County?

When it gets dangerously cold, the county activates its Freezing Weather Plan. Last winter (January and February 2026), the county opened an emergency shelter at the Edgewood Senior Activity Center three times: Jan. 18-21, Jan. 24-Feb. 1 and Feb. 7-9, 2026, per its February 2026 newsletter. Those were last winter's dates. For 2026-27 shelter and warming information, check the county's Snow Events page and alerts when the plan is activated.

Who to call for help:

Business hours: Harford Community Action Agency, 410-612-9909, per HCAA
After hours: dial 2-1-1, per HCAA
Emergency: 911

How do I get alerts during a storm?

The county lists two radio stations for emergency alerts: WXCY 103.7 FM and WHFC 91.1 FM. A battery radio can help if your phone dies.

Quick prep list

Do this once and you're set for the winter:

Sign up for outage texts (BGE or Delmarva).
Charge a power bank and keep it charged.
Put flashlights where you can find them in the dark.
Test your carbon monoxide detectors.
Know how to protect your pipes if the heat is out for long.

Want more ways to get your house ready? Read my winter home maintenance guide. And check my 2026 holiday guide for what's going on this season.

FAQ

How do I report a BGE power outage in Harford County?

Call 877-778-2222, use the BGE app, report on bge.com, or text OUT to 69243 after you sign up by texting ADD OUTAGE to 69243.

Where is the BGE outage map?

It's on bge.com under Outages, and in the BGE app. It shows current outages and restore updates.

How do I report a Delmarva Power outage?

Call 800-898-8042 any time, report online, or text OUT to 67972 after you sign up by texting ADD OUTAGE to 67972.

Where are the warming centers in Harford County?

When the county activates its Freezing Weather Plan, it has opened an emergency shelter. Last winter (Jan.-Feb. 2026) that was the Edgewood Senior Activity Center. For 2026-27, check the county's site, and call the Harford Community Action Agency at 410-612-9909 or dial 2-1-1 after hours.

How far should a generator be from my house?

Ready.gov says at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and only outside.

About the author: Josh Tessier is a Harford County REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team at eXp Realty, based in Bel Air. He has been licensed in real estate since 2011, and the Lee Tessier Team has sold 5,900+ homes. He lives in Harford County and is raising his family here. Call or text (443) 617-2099.

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Harford County real estate agent Josh Tessier — *Josh Tessier, REALTOR® with the Lee Tessier Team. Call or text (443) 617-2099.*

Watch more on my YouTube channel: Josh Talks Harford. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

Header photo: “Ice storm Tinton Falls” by Tom Shortell, CC BY 2.5 (license), via Wikimedia Commons. Taken in Tinton Falls, NJ. Cropped, with text added.