PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Summer is just around the corner and PECO is ready. More than 50 projects have been completed this year that are essential to meeting the increased demand customers place on the electric system to keep their homes and businesses cool. This work includes the installation of substation equipment upgrades and new transmission wires and poles. PECO also has completed projects to increase neighborhood electric supply, inspected circuits and equipment, and numerous additional jobs to ensure reliable service for the company’s 1.6 million electric customers this summer.
In addition to larger projects, PECO’s summer preparedness program includes inspecting and maintaining aerial and underground electrical equipment, substations and other facilities; upgrading, replacing and repairing equipment to meet customer needs; emergency response drills and other training for employees; and maintenance and testing of various computer and support systems.
“Our customers count on us to keep the lights on and the gas flowing every day, around-the-clock, regardless of high temperatures or extreme weather conditions,” said Mike Innocenzo, senior vice president of Operations. “We’ve planned for our customers’ needs and strategically invested in our electric and gas systems to ensure we deliver the safe and reliable service our customers expect.”
Higher temperatures can lead to increased energy usage and higher bills because of greater energy required to run air conditioners and other cooling devices. Customers can save energy and money this summer by following a few simple tips from PECO.
The following tips can help reduce energy usage by 30 percent or more this summer:
- Manage your thermostat: For customers with central air conditioning, keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home. Raise the thermostat setting for days of extreme heat to save even more. Lowering the thermostat setting below the desired temperature will not cool your home faster, it just wastes energy and money.
- Check air conditioner size and placement: For those with room air conditioners, ensure that the appliance is sized properly for the room and turn the unit off if someone is not going to be in the room for an extended period of time. Place window air conditioners on the north or shady side of the house to avoid overworking the unit in the hot daytime sun.
- Use fans to circulate air: For those without any air conditioning, we recommend ceiling fans or portable fans operating 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 and reduce your air conditioner’s “on” time.
- Use appliances wisely: To reduce heat and moisture during the warmest part of the day, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or evening hours when it’s generally cooler outside. Also, use a microwave to cook, or barbecue outside, if possible, during the hottest days.
- Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed: About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply drawing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat gain to your home. Awnings are even better and can dramatically reduce radiant heating. Window coatings and window film can reflect as much as 80 percent of direct rays from the sun.
- Keep the hot air out: Turn off all unnecessary lighting and appliances, which add heat to the home. Keep doors to the outside, garage or attic firmly closed to keep cool air in and hot air out.
- Look for energy-efficient appliances: When shopping for appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners, look for the Energy Star label, and purchase the most affordable energy-efficient unit. Newer more energy-efficient models lower monthly operating costs.
- Replace inefficient lighting: Replace your old standard incandescent bulbs with new compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). They use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and they last up to 10 times longer.
Customers can save even more with PECO Smart Ideas, the company’s full suite of energy efficiency and demand response programs to help residential, business, government and non-profit customers save energy and money. To learn more visit www.peco.com/SmartIdeas or call 1-888-5-PECO-SAVE (1-888-573-2672).
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 494,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 82.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 38.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2011. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.
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