More than 1,300 System Projects Completed to Enhance Natural Gas and Electric Service for PECO
Customers
PECO completed more than 1,300 projects to enhance natural gas and electric service for customers during the second quarter of
2016. These system enhancement projects are part of the company’s efforts to provide customers with safe, reliable, affordable, and
clean energy and energy services. The company invests more than $500 million each year to enhance its system infrastructure through
preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades.
Through PECO’s System 2020 plan, the company is investing an additional $274 million during the next five years to install
advanced equipment and reinforce the local electric system, making it more weather resistant and less vulnerable to storm
damage.
“We work year-round to ensure safe and reliable natural gas and electric service for our customers by proactively monitoring our
systems and identifying opportunities for improvement,” said Mike Innocenzo, senior vice president and COO. “Through these ongoing
system investment initiatives, we continue to enhance our service to meet the energy needs of our customers.”
PECO completed nearly 1,200 projects to ensure safe and reliable natural gas service for customers. This includes equipment
inspections, repairs and replacements, and preventive maintenance on the company’s natural gas transmission and distribution
system. From April through June, PECO inspected 1,070 miles of natural gas main, completed more than 3,700 valve inspections and
replaced nearly 11 miles of natural gas main with plastic pipe, which enhances safety, is more durable and improves service.
PECO also completed more than 100 electric system projects in the second quarter of 2016, including seven System 2020 projects.
Specifically, more than 40 corrective and preventive maintenance projects were completed. PECO continued to upgrade and install
advanced equipment throughout the region, adding 10 new aerial devices called reclosers to its distribution system. When a problem
occurs, like a fallen tree limb, lightning strike or vehicle accident, the recloser stops the flow of electricity on the line and
automatically restores electricity if possible. There are more than 1,700 reclosers on PECO’s system, which prevented more than
84,500 sustained power interruptions for PECO customers during the second quarter of this year.
To help prevent power outages caused by vegetation, PECO also installs reinforced tree-resistant aerial electric lines. These
lines are stronger than traditional lines and can better withstand falling trees and tree limbs. PECO now has more than 21 miles
installed across the service territory. Rigorous tree trimming also continues to limit the number of power outages caused by trees
and other vegetation. As part of this work, PECO will invest about $41 million in vegetation management work around 3,300 miles of
aerial electric lines in 2016.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). The
company’s 2,400 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 511,000
natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015 PECO delivered 86.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 38
billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania,
supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. 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.
If you are a member of the media and would like to receive PECO news releases via email, please send your email address
to PECO.Communication@exeloncorp.com.
PECO
Greg Smore, 215-841-5555
Greg.Smore@exeloncorp.com
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