The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved PECO’s Electric Delivery Rate Case settlement, funding continued system investments and enhanced service for customers.
“This important approval ensures we will be able to continue to provide our customers with safe, reliable, affordable energy services and innovative customer programs,” said Craig Adams, PECO president and CEO. “Every day we find new and innovative ways to transform the customer experience and advance our system, and this will allow us to continue those efforts.”
Based on this approval, the total monthly bill for PECO customers would increase by 3 percent beginning January 1, 2016. For the typical residential customer using 700 kilowatt hours of electricity, the total monthly bill will increase $4.24. Rates for a typical small business customer would increase by about $17.02 per month, and monthly bills for a typical large business customer would increase by $432.32.
PECO has programs to help customers manage this change. By participating in PECO Smart Ideas, the company’s suite of energy efficiency programs, customers can save:
- Up to 20 percent on their energy bills by taking advantage of PECO Smart House Call. PECO will send an energy advisor to your home, provide a personal energy assessment and offer energy-efficient upgrades on the spot.
- Up to 25 percent of the energy used for lighting by purchasing deeply discounted LED and CFL lights at hundreds of local stores through PECO Smart Lighting Discounts.
- Seven percent on the electricity they use by purchasing their electricity from any of the competitive electric generation suppliers participating in PECO Smart Energy Choice.
- To find more ways to save energy and money visit peco.com/smartideas.
PECO also offers payment options like budget billing to help customers manage their monthly energy bills. Budget billing makes short-term fluctuation in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year.
Many programs also are available to help low-income customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills. Through our Universal Services programs, we assist more than 150,000 low-income customers each year with reduced rates, free energy-efficiency improvements and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. To learn more about these programs, visit peco.com/help.
Earlier this year, the PUC also approved PECO’s System 2020 plan to invest an additional $274 million, during the next five years, to install advanced equipment, explore state-of-the-art microgrid technology, and reinforce the future electric system – making it more weather resistant and less vulnerable to storm damage.
During the last five years, PECO has invested more than $1.5 billion in its electric delivery system to regularly inspect equipment, perform targeted system enhancements and corrective maintenance, and to trim trees and other vegetation. Today’s approval allows PECO to continue these investments.
