PECO Helps Customers Put a Stake in the Heart of Vampire Energy

PECO provides tips to save energy and money this Halloween

Although goblins, ghouls and ghosts are most prominent around Halloween, vampire energy can be a menace all year long. Beware of vampire energy around your home to avoid being spooked.

Vampire, or phantom energy is energy used by computers, televisions, lamps, chargers, and other appliances that continue to use power even while plugged in but powered off. Vampire energy slowly, but continuously, drains energy even when the product is not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that vampire energy costs customers in the United States more than $10 billion a year.

Small changes can add up to big savings:

• Use a power strip with an on/off switch to fully power down electronics in your home.
• Unplug your charger for your cell phone, portable music player or other electronics once fully charged.
• When preparing for out-of-town travel, unplug all nonessential devices.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances, electronics and other products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

To find where energy vampires may be hiding in your home, customers can take the PECO Smart Home E-Audit. This free, online tool analyzes a customer’s energy use and provides ways to save energy and money.

To create your own personal profile with the PECO Smart Home E-Audit, register for MyAccount at peco.com. For more ways to save energy and money, visit peco.com/smartideas.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and more than 500,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 85.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2013. 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.

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PECOEmily [e-mail]