PECO’s service territory includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties.
- Quick Facts
- Service Area: 2,100 square miles
- Customers: 1.6 million electric; 486,000 natural gas
- Employees: 2,400
- 2009 Revenues: $5,311 million
- 2009 Assets: $9,019 million
- Substations: 450
- Distribution & Transmission Power Lines: more than 29,000 miles
With a history of more than 100 years of service to the Greater Philadelphia region, PECO has a long-standing commitment to a culture of excellence. PECO’s safety performance is ranked among utilities as one of the best in the nation and the company has been widely recognized for its community service, economic development and operational and environmental efforts.
Investments in Reliability
Committed to providing reliable service to its customers, PECO has invested more than $1.2 billion in infrastructure improvements and operations during the last 5 years.
- Infrastructure. PECO will spend more than $400 million on maintenance, system performance and capacity expansion projects in 2010 as a part of its commitment to maintain reliable service to its customers. Projects include new electric substations in the city and suburbs, expanded use of automation technology on electric distribution circuits and upgrades to its gas distribution system, such as pipe replacement and using enhanced detection equipment to decrease any gas leakage from underground pipelines.
- Smart Meters. PECO has one of the largest fully automated meter reading systems in the United States and is evaluating state-of-the-art technology that can provide real-time energy usage information to the customer and utility. Plans are underway to deploy two-way smart meters to its electric customers, pending regulator approval. With such approval PECO anticipates combining this program with voluntary real-time pricing programs to help customers better manage their energy usage. Smart grid investments also will improve electric reliability and improve response to storms.
Performance and Service
- Safety Recognition. PECO has been recognized as Pennsylvania’s safest utility by the state Department of Labor & Industry and has received related awards from the Energy Association of Pennsylvania and the American Gas Association. In 2008, PECO was also ranked #1 among the nation’s largest investor-owned utilities in a review by the Edison Electric Institute.
- Reliable Delivery. PECO’s culture of continuous improvement is reflected by its 2008 non-storm reliability rating, its highest ever, and a steady improvement reliability trend since 2002. With comprehensive system maintenance, technology upgrades and other distribution system improvements, the company works to minimize outages and reduce the duration of service interruptions when they occur.
Safety
Safety is a core value of all Exelon companies. PECO emphasizes safety through programs for its employees, contractors, customers and the communities it serves. PECO also maintains emergency-response and storm-readiness plans that are tested with multiple drills throughout each year.
Environmental Commitment
PECO contributes to the goals of Exelon 2020, through initiatives to green its operations and by helping customers reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.
- Greening Operations. PECO converted the roof of its main office building in Philadelphia into a green roof, the largest green roof on an urban building in Pennsylvania. PECO achieved LEED ® Certification for its energy-efficient service building in West Chester, Pennsylvania. PECO is upgrading other office buildings and facilities to be more energy efficient.
- Customer Programs. More than 38,000 customers have enrolled in PECO WIND and purchase 160,000 MWh of green power annually. PECO also is rolling out a package of energy and conservation programs to help its customers reduce energy usage and save money.
- Environmental Leadership. PECO has attained the ISO:14001 certification for its environmental management system. It has switched its entire diesel-vehicle fleet to one that uses bio-diesel fuel. Its fleet also features compressed natural gas vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.
Community Giving
The company has been widely recognized for its community service, economic development, and environmental efforts.
- Sponsorship. PECO sponsors numerous events throughout the year. In 2008, major sponsorship included the Franklin Institute’s Environmental Program; Drexel Exelon Scholars; and Kimmel Center’s Diversity Programs.
- Grants. In 2008, the company gave 570 grants valued more than $7.8 million in 2008. Most of this funding supported organizations and programs that advance the arts, education, environment, and the communities served by PECO.