PECO Inspecting 39,000 Poles to Ensure Reliable Electric Service

Program to enhance electric service for about 300,000 customers

PECO will inspect more than 39,000 utility poles throughout Bucks and Philadelphia counties this year as part of the company’s ongoing preventive maintenance program. The company is investing $1.5 million to perform the inspections, which will continue through spring.

Inspections include a visual examination of poles and the electrical equipment attached, taking samples from the interior of poles and excavating around the base to check for decay. Any necessary repairs and replacements would then be performed.

In total, PECO maintains 390,000 poles across the region; each is inspected every 10 years. Inspection, replacement and repair work is done in accordance with the National Electric Safety Code.

“Continuous inspection, repair and replacement of equipment on our electric system is critical to ensuring that our customers receive the safe and reliable service they expect,” said John McDonald, vice president of Technical Services. “Preventive maintenance programs help reduce the frequency and duration of outages, improve the performance of our entire system, keeping our customers and crews safe.”

Poles in the following townships and boroughs will be inspected this year:

• Bucks: Bristol Township, Falls Township, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor, Lower Makefield Township, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, Northhampton Township, Penndel Borough
• Philadelphia: Center City (from Lehigh Avenue to South Street between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers) and Northeast Philadelphia (from Grant Avenue to Levick Street between the Delaware River and the Montgomery County Line)

Each year, PECO invests a total of about $500 million to enhance the company’s electric system infrastructure. This program is part of the company’s overall preventive maintenance program which also includes regular inspection of equipment, including manholes, aerial wires and underground cables, transformers and substations.

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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PECOGreg Smore, [e-mail]