WHAT: A special 7-minute premier showcasing all of the things that make the Greater Philadelphia region a great place to live, work, and play will be highlighted as PECO changes the Philadelphia skyline forever with its new, energy efficient, LED Crown Lights system.

The new system is comprised of 118 columns, each 2 feet wide by 40 feet high.  The system is 76 feet wide along the East and West sides, and 172 feet wide along the North and South sides.  In total, more than 2 million LEDs were used in the nearly 8,000 sq. ft. new system.

WHEN: Saturday, July 4, 2009, 8:30 p.m.
(Please note: PECO representatives have open availability for interviews-please call contacts listed above.)

WHERE:  PECO Crown Lights debut viewing area on the Ben Franklin Parkway adjacent to base of Art Museum steps, across from Eakins Oval south fountain, between the Oval and the end of Martin Luther King Drive

BACKGROUND:  After going dark this past New Year’s Eve, the ceremonial “switching-on” will begin at approximately 9 p.m. during the city’s annual Welcome America! festival.

The new Crown Lights are part of a broader environmental / energy efficiency initiative for PECO and its customers.  The unveiling will come immediately after PECO’s planned July 1, 2009 filing with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) for $342 million in programs to help customers reduce and manage their energy use and costs.

The proposed programs – including CFL giveaways, appliance pick-up, new “time of use” rate options, dramatically increased low-income programs, and many other incentives – are part of PECO’s ongoing efforts to help customers manage the end of rate caps and transition to market-based rates on Jan. 1, 2011.  When approved, the programs will help customers reduce energy use by more than 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours by 2013.  Other efforts to help customers include PECO’s robust power purchasing strategy to secure the lowest possible prices for customers.

PECO has been displaying messages atop its 23rd and Market Street headquarters since July 4, 1976.  Since that time, the company has saluted local community and non-profit organizations with more than 17,500 messages.  The new system was installed by C. Erickson and Sons in conjunction with YESCO Electronics.  To submit a community message for consideration visit www.peco.com/CrownLights, e-mail PECOCrownLights@exeloncorp.com, or call 215-841-5110.