As temperatures begin to dip, PECO employees have been hard at work completing necessary projects to help ensure the company’s natural gas and electric systems are ready to meet the energy needs of customers all winter long. This proactive effort also includes infrastructure work to strengthen the local energy grid to prevent outages caused by severe winter storms. 

As part of this effort, the company is investing approximately $7.8 billion during the next five years to complete targeted system enhancements and corrective maintenance, invest in new equipment, and perform vegetation management work. This includes PECO’s Reliability & Resiliency Plan to make the local energy grid stronger and more resilient to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy for customers.

Specific to PECO’s natural gas system, the company has inspected equipment, completed necessary repairs or replacements, performed preventative maintenance work, and installed additional natural gas main and service lines to bring natural gas service to new customers. The company continues to accelerate work to replace existing natural gas main and service lines with new plastic pipe, which enhances safety, is more durable, improves service, and reduces methane emissions. In 2023, PECO completed 280 projects to replace nearly 270,000 feet of existing natural gas lines and is on track to complete the replacement of all cast iron and bare steel service lines by the end of 2023. In addition, all cast iron and bare steel natural gas mains will be replaced by 2035.

PECO has also inspected more than 7,500 miles of aerial electric lines and more than 1,000 manholes to make any needed repairs to underground electric equipment. This seasonal readiness work helps proactively ensure that PECO’s system is ready for the upcoming winter months.

“Safety remains our top priority, which is why we continue to upgrade our systems to provide the reliable service our customers have come to expect year round,” said Nicole LeVine, PECO’s senior vice president and COO. “We strategically invest in infrastructure throughout the year, so we can be prepared for winter weather and minimize the impacts of increasingly severe weather events on our customers.”

PECO also encourages customers to stay safe and save on their energy bills with a number of resources:

Storm Safety

While PECO works to prevent as many outages as possible, severe storms can cause damage and power outages. Customers can act now to prepare for severe weather by visiting PECO.

Also, customers can visit PECO before winter weather grips the region and sign up to receive updates on their energy usage and information regarding power outages via text, email, or phone, including when power is out, when service is expected to be restored, or when power is restored.

Customers can also text “ADDOUTAGE” to MYPECO (697326), to enroll in our two-way texting program to report outages and check the status of their outage.

Save Energy, Save Money

Increased energy use during the colder winter months can lead to higher bills. Customers are encouraged to use energy wisely, take steps to be more efficient, and take advantage of bill relief or assistance programs.
 
Customers can take advantage of energy efficiency programs to save energy and money, including energy assessments that identify ways to save even more. Learn more about PECO’s residential programs.

Bill Relief and Assistance Programs

PECO offers a variety of bill relief options and assistance programs to help customers make ends meet. In addition to income-qualified plans and grants, PECO offers budget billing, which makes short-term fluctuations in monthly bills easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year. Residential customers should act now and can find out more about options online.