PHILADELPHIA (May 26, 2015) – PECO is investing $670,000 in vegetation management along 263 miles of aerial electric lines to improve electric service for more than 96,000 customers in southeastern Montgomery and northeastern Philadelphia counties. Work began in May and will be completed by the end of August.

Specifically, work will occur in Cheltenham Township and in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Bridesburg, Frankford, Juniata, Lawncrest, Richmond, Tacony and Wissinoming.

“Vegetation growth causes about one-third of all electric outages,” said John McDonald, PECO vice president of Technical Services. “Preventive pruning around aerial power lines is vital to safely keeping the lights on for our customers.”

Each year, PECO invests approximately $500 million to enhance its electric infrastructure, including preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades. In 2015, PECO will invest about $36 million in vegetation management work around approximately 2,800 miles of aerial power lines along the company’s electric transmission and distribution system.

PECO’s vegetation management crews are trained in arboricultural techniques as defined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Standard. This standard takes into account the type and location of the tree, its relation to overhead equipment and overall health of the tree. Customers are notified before work begins in their area. 

For more information, call 1-800-494-4000 or visit peco.com and click on the Trees and Powerlines link under the Customer Service / Service Request tab on the home page.

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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 506,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region.  PECO delivered 89.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 37.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2014.  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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