Summer is just around the corner and PECO is ready. More than 35 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.

“The summer months can present extreme challenges for PECO’s electric system in the form of high heat and severe storms”

In addition to larger projects, PECO’s summer preparedness program includes inspecting and maintaining aerial and underground electrical equipment, substations and other facilities. The company also upgrades, replaces and repairs equipment to meet customer needs, conducts emergency response drills and other training for employees, and performs maintenance and testing of various computer and support systems.

“The summer months can present extreme challenges for PECO’s electric system in the form of high heat and severe storms,” said Mike Innocenzo, senior vice president and chief operating officer. “That is why we’ve planned ahead and strategically invested in these systems to ensure that we deliver the safe and reliable service our customers expect. These preparations help us keep the lights on every day, regardless of the conditions we face.”

Higher temperatures can lead to higher bills because of greater energy usage 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 up to 20 percent and possibly more this summer:

-- Manage your thermostat: For customers with energy-efficient 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. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you're away or sleeping. When used properly, a programmable thermostat with its four temperature settings can save about $180 a year in energy costs.

-- 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) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. CFLs and LEDs 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 PECO’s SmartIdeas webpage or call 1-888-573-2672.

Summer also brings the potential for severe weather such as thunderstorms and hurricanes, which can result in power outages. PECO has been taking steps to ensure it is ready to respond if severe weather arrives by reviewing its emergency response plan, conducting emergency drills and working to ensure all employees clearly understand and can execute their storm assignments.

Every day, PECO closely monitors approaching weather systems, assesses the potential impacts on its service area and ensures the appropriate resources are in place before those storms arrive. PECO encourages customers to be prepared for severe weather and the possibility of power outages, and to ensure the safety of their families and property during service interruptions.

For more information on storm preparedness and storm safety, visit PECO’s Outage Center webpage.

In the event of a service interruption, customers should report outages by calling 1-800-841-4141. PECO also provides customers with the ability to report power outages online by visiting the company’s website, or via mobile devices using PECO Smart Mobile On-the-Go, the mobile optimized version of peco.com.

Customers also can visit the company’s online outage map and find information about storm preparedness and service restoration. Additionally, customers can follow PECO on Twitter and on Facebook, to stay informed on the latest PECO information.

6/3/2013