Extreme Temperatures Can Cause Increases in Electric and Natural Gas Use

As another stretch of frigid temperatures grips the Delaware Valley, PECO reminds customers to manage their energy costs by using energy as efficiently as possible. Here are some simple things to do right now that will make a difference:

• Do not block heating vents with furniture or drapes.
• Keep blinds, shades and drapes open on sunny days and let the sunlight help warm rooms.
• Close off unoccupied rooms.
• Turn off any unnecessary lights and electronics.
• Check for drafts around windows and doors, and seal up any openings with weather stripping or even a rolled up blanket. A drafty house lets warm air escape and is much more costly to keep warm – especially on the coldest days of the season.
• Keep thermostats set at a constant, comfortable level. If health permits, lower thermostats just a few degrees when sleeping or when out for more than a few hours. Large fluctuations in thermostat settings will cause heating systems to work harder and waste energy.

PECO urges customers stay safe. Never use an oven or other cooking device as a heat source for your home. It also is a good idea to check on elderly neighbors and relatives during the extreme cold.

To manage energy costs, customers should sign up for budget billing. Budget billing makes short-term fluctuations in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year. Customers having trouble managing their bills should contact PECO immediately.

Customers also can help those less fortunate stay warm this winter by making a donation to PECO's Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF). The program, funded by voluntary contributions, helps low-income customers restore service or avoid service termination. Donations are matched dollar-for-dollar. To learn more about how to donate to MEAF, visit www.peco.com/help or call 1-800-774-7040.

To find even more ways to save energy and money, visit www.peco.com/SmartIdeas.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 497,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 76.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2012. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.