Stock Up and Take Advantage of PECO's Energy Saving Tips and Assistance Programs PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- With Autumn officially underway, cold weather won't be too far away. The colder weather increases household energy costs, regardless of the type of heating system you have. So now is the time to prepare your home for the winter season and to take advantage of PECO's online store, budget billing, assistance programs and energy saving tips. First, visit PECO's online energy store at http://www.pecowinter.com/ for a wide variety of energy efficient products available at a 20 percent discount, including: -- A new heater filter so your heater operates efficiently; -- Hot water heater insulating wrap and insulating tape for hot water pipes in exposed areas so heat is not lost as the hot water moves throughout the home; -- Water saving shower heads to reduce the amount of hot water that you use; -- Programmable thermostat to better regulate heating temperature and energy use; -- Door jams to stop cold drafts; -- Weather stripping and caulk for leaky doors, windows and openings; and -- Plastic sheeting for windows if the home does not have storm windows or double pane windows. While each of these items is relatively inexpensive, the potential savings from their use could be as much as $300 to $400 a year. The company does not profit from any of the online sales, but is offering its customers another way to save money this winter by reducing their home energy usage. Save Money By Using Energy Efficiently Save money by reducing the amount of energy used in and around your home. By following these simple energy efficiency tips customers can save money all winter long: -- Install and use compact florescent light bulbs and Energy Star appliances. -- Have your furnace professionally inspected every two years. A well- maintained appliance will last longer, operate better and save you money. -- Replace the filter for your heat pump or furnace for the new heating season. Dirty filters block airflow and force equipment to work harder -- this increases operating costs and can cause damage. -- Inspect the insulation between heated and unheated areas to ensure insulation is at least six inches thick. Insulation is the single most important energy conservation measure. It will deteriorate over time and occasionally needs to be reinforced. -- If your water heater is 'warm to the touch', it does not have built in insulation and should be wrapped with an insulation blanket. These blankets are inexpensive and easy to install. -- Inspect the caulking or weather stripping around windows, doors and any openings to the outside such as dryer vents or exterior outlets. A drafty house lets warm air escape and is much more costly to keep warm - especially on the coldest days of the season. -- Remove window air conditioners if possible, or install an air conditioner cover to stop drafts. -- Identify the air ducts in each room and keep them clean with a vacuum or broom. Do not cover ducts with drapes or furniture that can block the airflow and possibly cause a fire. Dirty or blocked vents can cause your furnace to work harder pushing up your energy costs. -- Reverse the rotation of ceiling fan blades. During the winter months, blades should spin so the warm air that has risen can be re-distributed around the room. Assistance Is A Phone Call Away The company offers a number of programs for low-and fixed-income customers including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides grants to help meet monthly heating costs. The program's eligibility is based on family size and income, and the application season begins in November of 2007. For more information and eligibility requirements call 1- 800-34-HELP-4. Other assistance programs include: -- The Customer Assistance Program (CAP): Discounted electric and natural gas rates for low- and fixed-income customers. -- The Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF): A program funded by voluntary contributions of caring citizens and matched by PECO for up to $500 in total assistance for those who qualify. -- Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) provides conservation and weatherization assistance for qualified households year round. For more information and eligibility requirements, call 1-800-675-0222. All PECO customers who are in good financial standing, should consider taking advantage of PECO's budget billing program, which makes short-term fluctuation in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly. Visit http://www.peco.com/ehome for information on budget billing. Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility serving 1.6 million electric and 470,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2005, the company delivered 38.7 million megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity and 85.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.91 billion in revenue for Exelon. 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. Contact: Cameron Kline PECO 2301 Market Street, S14-1 Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-841-5555 DATASOURCE: PECO CONTACT: Cameron Kline of PECO, +1-215-841-5555 Web site: http://www.peco.com/ http://www.pecowinter.com/ http://www.peco.com/ehome

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