PHILADELPHIA (July 7, 2009) – Based on a new report on Electric Service Reliability in Pennsylvania, PECO achieved performance better than standards, which were established for the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to regularly evaluate service quality provided by utilities after the state’s restructuring of the industry 10 years ago.

The PUC was granted authority to ensure service reliability in the state that existed prior to the industry restructuring continue in the new competitive markets.  If any utility fails to meet performance standards for electric reliability, it may trigger the PUC’s additional scrutiny and the utility could face enforcement actions for service improvements. The report details reliability performance based on the average frequency (referred to as SAIFI) and duration of electric service outages (CAIDI). The report is available online at Electric Service Reliability 2008.

The report indicates that 10 of 11 electric distribution companies (EDCs) achieved compliance with the rolling 12-month SAIFI performance standards and six utilities, including PECO, met their rolling three-year standards. Additionally, PECO was one of only five EDCs in Pennsylvania to perform better than the performance benchmark, which is the average of each company’s system-wide performance for the five-year period 1994-98. The performance benchmarks are considered a higher reference point for comparison of reliability performance.

The report also states nine of 11 EDCs achieved compliance with the rolling 12-month CAIDI performance standards and nearly all utilities, 10 of the state’s 11 EDCs, met their rolling three-year standards.

In the report, the PUC noted “increased scrutiny in Pennsylvania” on electric service reliability, its reporting requirements for utilities, and enforcement actions taken with EDCs that failed to meet performance standards. The Commission also added to its performance monitoring last year with the adoption of inspection and maintenance standards for electric transmission and distributions systems.

In particular, PECO’s average outage frequency experienced by customers system-wide last year was 1.04, 29.7 percent better than the minimum standard and 15.4 percent better than the benchmark. When data includes the first quarter of 2009, PECO’s rolling 12-month system average for outage frequency improved to an even 1.00, 18.7 percent better than the benchmark.

PECO’s CAIDI, or average outage duration, last year was 124 minutes, 12 minutes higher than the historical benchmark but 7.5 percent better than the performance standard. The average CAIDI improved to be better than the benchmark for the 12 months ending March 2009.

PECO said its system maintenance and its vegetation management program, including clearing of trees around aerial power lines, are keys to continued improvement in service reliability for customers. Additionally, the company’s investments in distribution automation, mobile dispatch technology for field crews, and enhanced emergency preparedness are focus areas to improve the outage duration or CAIDI performance.