More than 1,300 System Projects Completed to Enhance Natural Gas and Electric Service for PECO Customers
PECO completed more than 1,300 projects to enhance natural gas and
electric service for customers during the second quarter of 2016. These
system enhancement projects are part of the company’s efforts to provide
customers with safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy and energy
services. The company invests more than $500 million each year to
enhance its system infrastructure through preventive maintenance and
equipment upgrades.
Through PECO’s System 2020 plan, the company is investing an additional
$274 million during the next five years to install advanced equipment
and reinforce the local electric system, making it more weather
resistant and less vulnerable to storm damage.
“We work year-round to ensure safe and reliable natural gas and electric
service for our customers by proactively monitoring our systems and
identifying opportunities for improvement,” said Mike Innocenzo, senior
vice president and COO. “Through these ongoing system investment
initiatives, we continue to enhance our service to meet the energy needs
of our customers.”
PECO completed nearly 1,200 projects to ensure safe and reliable natural
gas service for customers. This includes equipment inspections, repairs
and replacements, and preventive maintenance on the company’s natural
gas transmission and distribution system. From April through June, PECO
inspected 1,070 miles of natural gas main, completed more than 3,700
valve inspections and replaced nearly 11 miles of natural gas main with
plastic pipe, which enhances safety, is more durable and improves
service.
PECO also completed more than 100 electric system projects in the second
quarter of 2016, including seven System 2020 projects. Specifically,
more than 40 corrective and preventive maintenance projects were
completed. PECO continued to upgrade and install advanced equipment
throughout the region, adding 10 new aerial devices called reclosers to
its distribution system. When a problem occurs, like a fallen tree limb,
lightning strike or vehicle accident, the recloser stops the flow of
electricity on the line and automatically restores electricity if
possible. There are more than 1,700 reclosers on PECO’s system, which
prevented more than 84,500 sustained power interruptions for PECO
customers during the second quarter of this year.
To help prevent power outages caused by vegetation, PECO also installs
reinforced tree-resistant aerial electric lines. These lines are
stronger than traditional lines and can better withstand falling trees
and tree limbs. PECO now has more than 21 miles installed across the
service territory. Rigorous tree trimming also continues to limit the
number of power outages caused by trees and other vegetation. As part of
this work, PECO will invest about $41 million in vegetation management
work around 3,300 miles of aerial electric lines in 2016.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility
subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). The company’s 2,400
dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6
million electric and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in
southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015 PECO delivered 86.9 billion cubic
feet of natural gas and 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The
company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in
Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760
million in labor income. 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. For more information visit PECO.com,
and connect with the company on Facebook
and Twitter.
If you are a member of the media and would like to receive PECO news
releases via email, please send your email address to PECO.Communication@exeloncorp.com.
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