PECO Completes Key Work for Safe and Reliable Service All Winter Long

As temperatures begin to drop, PECO has completed more than a dozen projects to keep the lights on and natural gas flowing for customers all winter long.

Each year, PECO invests nearly $100 million in the company’s natural gas system to provide safe and reliable service for customers. This work includes equipment inspections, repairs and replacements, and preventive maintenance on the company’s natural gas transmission and distribution system.

This year PECO installed more than 6,600 feet of underground natural gas main to meet the growing needs of customers. The company also completed 80 projects to replace more than 95,000 feet of existing natural gas line with new plastic pipe, which enhances safety, is more durable and improves service. PECO also has secured natural gas supply and completed filling storage facilities to serve more than 508,000 natural gas customers this heating season.

The company also has inspected more than 10,000 miles of aerial electric lines and more than 2,100 manholes to examine and make any needed repairs to underground electrical equipment. PECO also has completed eight electrical enhancement projects to meet increased customer demand during the winter. This seasonal readiness work is a part of $500 million invested each year in the company’s electric system.

“Our customers depend on us to safely deliver the energy they need – this is particularly critical during the colder winter months,” said Craig Adams, president and CEO. “The completion of these projects marks months and months of work to ensure we are ready to meet their needs.”

As PECO prepares for winter, customers are reminded to prepare too.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Clean air vents around the house.
• Install storm windows and doors.
• Check weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors.
• Install seals behind electrical outlets and switches along exterior walls.

PECO also reminds customers to test their heating system and have it inspected by a qualified technician. Regular service will ensure the heating system operates safely and efficiently for the season ahead.

For customers not currently heating with natural gas, new programs and incentives are available to help make the switch more affordable. Customers continue to save money due to lower natural gas prices. Today, average customers are paying about 50 percent less for natural gas than they did in 2008.

PECO provides a variety of rebates for customers switching to natural gas or installing energy efficient natural gas heating equipment:

• PECO Smart Natural Gas Conversion offers rebates up to $200 for residential and up to $1,000 for commercial customers that switch to natural gas heat from another fuel source.
• PECO Smart Gas Efficiency Upgrade provides up to $300 in rebates for customers installing ENERGY STAR® qualified natural gas furnaces or boilers.
• PECO Smart Home Rebates offers customers up to $1,000 for switching from an electric furnace, electric baseboard heat or from an air source heat pump system to an ENERGY STAR® natural gas furnace or boiler.

For more information about making the switch to natural gas, visit peco.com/gasconversion or call 1-866-685-5665.

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. In 2014, PECO’s operations created an estimated economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. 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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