Operational Excellence

Exelon is steadfastly committed to delivering superior operating performance and assuring safety at all times while providing service that keeps the lights on and the gas flowing for the many customers and communities we serve. Our operating advantage stems from our core values of accountability and continuous improvement, as we set stretch goals and measure results to reach performance excellence.

Safe and Reliable Operations

Generation Companies

Our nuclear fleet operates at world-class levels at a lower cost than our competitors.

• Exelon Nuclear’s 10 generating stations and 17 reactors in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions achieved an average capacity factor of 93.6% in 2009, the seventh consecutive year our capacity factor exceeded 93%, and produced about 131.3 million megawatt-hours of electricity, enough power to steadily supply millions of modern U.S. homes.  For 2008, the average outage duration was 24 days, compared to an industry average of 40 days.
• The company’s 8,500 nuclear professionals continue to implement industry best practices to ensure safe, reliable operation throughout the fleet, earning numerous industry awards and recognition for their efforts.  In 2008, the company had its best year ever in safety performance. 
  
• Over the past few years, Exelon Power has made great strides in optimizing the performance of its units and maintenance programs while continuing to perform safely to provide the company with the right power, at the right time, and at the right price.  Exelon Power’s fleet of fossil and hydroelectric units in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas provided nearly 12 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of reliable generation in 2009. With 108 units at 23 different sites, Exelon Power can provide almost 8,000 megawatts of safe, efficient and environmentally responsible base load, intermediate and peak power generation.
  

Delivery Companies

Our delivery companies keep the lights on and the gas flowing and strive for continuous improvement.

• Since 1998, ComEd customers are experiencing 54% fewer outages, and when outages occur they are 59% shorter in duration.  PECO also performs in the top quartile among energy utilities for lowest frequency and duration of outages.
• In 2009, ComEd received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission for the largest proposed Smart Meter pilot project in the nation, comprising 131,000 smart meters. 
• PECO plans to invest up to $750 million in its Smart Grid infrastructure and received a $200 million federal stimulus grant in 2009 to accelerate the installation of smart meters.
• ComEd has long been an industry safety leader consistently ranking in the top decile among utilities.  In 2009, the company recorded with an OSHA recordable rate of 1.04 per 100 employees working a year.
• In 2008, PECO achieved top decile industry rating in safety, a 17% improvement in employee engagement and its highest-ever non-storm reliability rating – all the result of the company’s culture of continuous improvement.

Security Measures

Exelon and its family of companies have made significant investments in security enhancements.

• Exelon Nuclear took full control of the security forces protecting its nuclear facilities – hiring about 1,500 nuclear security employees in 2008.
• ComEd and PECO make significant capital investments annually to expand system capacity and maintain reliability.  Carefully designed backup systems and duplicative transmission routes ensure reliable service in severe weather situations and other extreme events.
• Exelon values the protection of its information and computer systems, paying close attention to security issues with additional levels of cyber security throughout the company, including improved firewalls and monitoring to prevent hackers or cyber terrorists from breaking into the systems. Exelon has exchanged best practices in cyber security with other large corporations, leading universities and government agencies.
• Exelon Corporate Security instituted a Security Awareness Program (SAP) throughout the Corporation to increase the level of security awareness and to reduce incidents and losses to the company.  The SAP includes the reinforcement of security practices and behaviors by employees and has increased the engagement of employees to Corporate Security.

Vigilance in Emergency Response Preparation

Our operating companies maintain plans and conduct drills and exercises in preparation for potential emergencies —both independently and with local, state and federal emergency response organizations.

• Annually, each Exelon Nuclear plant conducts an integrated exercise with state and local emergency organizations. These integrated exercises test and demonstrate the ability of Exelon and first responders to protect the public in the unlikely event of a plant emergency, as well as to respond to a hostile action at a plant. The NRC also participates in – and grades – emergency response drills to ensure readiness.
• Exelon Power conducted more than 30 exercises consisting of tabletop and quarterly notification drills. The tabletop exercises focused primarily on oil spills that could affect surface and groundwater. Results of the drills demonstrated that the contingency plans and incident command systems in place at Power’s facilities were effectively implemented.
• PECO and ComEd ensure the effectiveness of their emergency-response capabilities through crisis management and emergency response team training and drills conducted several times annually.

Managing Risk Prudently

Exelon has a comprehensive risk management program designed to identify, measure, prioritize, manage and communicate significant risks. A comprehensive, company-wide business continuity plan ensures that we can keep the lights on and the gas flowing in the event of a natural disaster, national emergency or pandemic outbreak. In 2008, we updated our plan, training employees regarding pandemic, home preparedness and antiviral programs and creating an automated call-in system for determining employee availability during a pandemic.