Don't Let Vampire Energy Scare You Out of Savings this Halloween! PECO Provides Tips to Help Customers Save Energy and Money

While you can ward off vampires with garlic alone, a few small changes around your home will keep vampire energy from haunting you this Halloween.

Vampire or “phantom” energy is energy used by computers, televisions, cable/satellite boxes, chargers, and other appliances and devices that continue to use power while powered off but still plugged in. These devices slowly drain energy, even when the products are not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that vampire energy costs customers in the United States more than $10 billion a year.

Minor changes around your home can add up to major savings:

• Use a power strip with an on/off switch to completely power down electronics around your home, including DVD players, computers and coffee makers.
• Unplug your mobile phone charger, portable music player or other electronics once they are fully charged.
• When preparing for out-of-town travel, always unplug all nonessential devices.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR^® label on home appliances, electronics and other products. ENERGY STAR^® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Discover where energy vampires may be haunting your home by taking the PECO Smart Home E-Audit. This free, online tool analyzes a customer’s energy use and provides customized ways to save energy and money. To create your own personal profile with the PECO Smart Home E-Audit, register for MyAccount at peco.com.

Save even more energy and money by scheduling a PECO Smart House Call. We’ll send an energy advisor to your home, provide a personal energy assessment, and offer energy efficient upgrades on the spot. Learn more at peco.com/smartideas or call 1-888-5PECO-SAVE.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and more than 506,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 89.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2014. 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. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.

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