Peco Energy Company

07/28/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/28/2022 09:29

PECO Prepared for This Week’s Summer Heat

​Company prepared to safely deliver electricity and offers customers tips to save energy and money during current heat wave

PHILADELPHIA (July 20, 2022) - The summer season is bringing the heat with temperatures forecasted to reach higher than 90 degrees for the next several days. PECO has been hard at work for the past several months to ensure the company's critical electric infrastructure is prepared to handle increased demand during times of prolonged higher temperatures. This proactive effort also includes infrastructure work to strengthen the local energy grid to prevent outages caused by severe summer storms.

During the next five years, PECO is investing approximately $6 billion across its electric and natural gas systems to inspect equipment, complete targeted infrastructure enhancements and corrective maintenance, invest in new equipment, and perform vegetation management work. This investment includes PECO's Reliability & Resiliency Plan, which outlines the investment of $1.36 billion on targeted reliability-focused electric system infrastructure investments through 2025.

As part of this work and in preparation for the summer season, PECO tested systems, processes, and procedures, and completed 286 projects and initiatives across the region to ensure customers stay powered this summer and through the current heat wave.

The company also has enhanced staffing in place to respond to any issues that may occur to reduce the impact on customers.

PECO continues to explore innovative technologies to help improve reliability for customers. This includes using drones to enable more efficient equipment inspections and faster damage assessments following storms, installing stronger poles and tree-resistant aerial cable, and installing specialized equipment, known as reclosers, that can automatically restore service or isolate storm damage.

Tips to Help Manage your Bill

There are several low- and no-cost tips that customers can follow to gain control over their energy use and costs to save money.

Energy Efficiency

Customers can take advantage of energy efficiency programs to save energy and money, including energy assessments that identify ways to save even more. Visit www.peco.com/waystosave to learn more.

In addition, customers can lower their bills during the summer months by following a few simple tips:

  • Turn it off: Turn off all unnecessary lighting and devices.
  • Manage your thermostat: Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home. Raise the thermostat setting for days of extreme heat to save even more. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you're away or sleeping.
  • Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed: About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply closing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat in your home.
  • Use ceiling fans to circulate air: For those without air conditioning, use ceiling fans or portable fans with the windows partially open to circulate fresh air into your home. For those with air conditioning, fans can be used to evenly distribute cool air.
  • Use appliances wisely: Run appliances that produce heat (like clothes dryers, ovens, and dishwashers) at night when it is cooler.
Monitor Usage
Through PECO's MyAccount at https://www.peco.com/myaccount, customers can track their energy use, set up high usage alerts, get tips on how to reduce energy costs, and learn which appliances use the most energy.

Bill Relief and Assistance Programs

To reduce the impact that high temperatures can have on monthly energy costs, customers also can sign up for Budget Billing, which makes short-term fluctuations in monthly bills easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year.

PECO also has billing and financial assistance programs to help qualified customers who are facing financial challenges manage their energy bill. PECO also offers additional programs that can help customers pay down outstanding balances through grants. Income-qualified programs are also available to help customers with bill credits, energy efficiency, and referrals for additional services. For more information about financial assistance programs, customers can visit www.peco.com/help.

PECO, founded in 1881, is Pennsylvania's largest electric and natural gas utility. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PECO delivers energy to nearly 1.7 million electric customers and more than 545,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. The company's 2,800 employees are dedicated to the safe and reliable delivery of electricity and natural gas as well as enhanced energy management conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. PECO is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the largest fully regulated utility company in the nation with more than 10 million customers. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.