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Baltimore city agencies previously attacked energy costs with a series of loosely connected programs funded by a patchwork of grants. But in several months Baltimore will receive its first infusion from a three-year, $52.9 million award for energy innovation, and the process of winning that money transformed scattered programs into what the city thinks will be a much broader and more effective effort.

The $113.5 million that Exelon Corp. agreed to make available for innovative projects — a condition of regulatory approval for its purchase of Constellation Energy — was awarded Thursday to groups planning to help low-income customers, small businesses and others decrease their energy bills.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's guests in the city's private skybox at Ravens games this past season included a small circle of city employees, prominent business leaders, donors to her campaign, and several family members, documents show.

As BGE parent Constellation Energy Group seeks to sell itself to Exelon Corp., the state's advocate for residential customers fears that the proposed merger would hurt low-income customers' ability to receive payment assistance and other help.

Housing department sets lower goal, promises accountability