The power shutoffs are here.

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. officials this week finally began following up on the promise they made in letters to ratepayers last month.

On Monday, BGE began switching off the lights to the homes of about 74,000 customers who, even after receiving at least three different types of warnings from the utility, did not contact the company about their past-due debt.

BGE officials said they weren't certain how many of the thousands at risk of a shutoff live in Anne Arundel County.

"These are the people who have taken no action whatsoever," said Robert Gould, a spokesman for...