Beatrice Lang
PECO, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, is the largest utility supplier in Pennsylvania. The company provides electricity to about 1.6 million customers and natural gas to over 500,000 customers. PECO is not the only energy supplier in the area, and since 2011, the state of Pennsylvania has been a deregulated energy market, meaning that consumers can choose to buy their energy from local retail suppliers. One such alternative supplier is Nordic Energy Services, which offers fixed-price and price options, as well as a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | PECO Energy Company |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Incorporated | 1902 or 1929 |
| Parent Company | Exelon Corporation |
| Employees | 2,300 |
| Customers | 1.6 million electric and 511,000-545,000 natural gas |
| Service Area | 2,100 square miles |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia |
| States | Pennsylvania, Maryland |
| Alternative Suppliers | Nordic Energy |
| Contact | 24-hour emergency contact, 1-800-841-4141 |
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What You'll Learn
History of PECO
PECO, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, is an energy company founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1902. It is one of the oldest and largest utility companies in the United States, with its origins in the work of Thomas Edison. The company has a long history of serving the Greater Philadelphia region and became a part of Exelon Corporation in 2000 when it merged with Commonwealth Edison's holding company, Unicom Corp.
PECO has a strong commitment to its customers and the community, focusing on providing safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy. The company has a large customer base, serving about 1.6 million electric and over 500,000 natural gas customers. It operates in southeastern Pennsylvania and its service area covers all of Philadelphia and Delaware County, as well as parts of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties.
Throughout its history, PECO has been innovative and forward-thinking. The company has made significant investments in its electric and gas delivery systems to ensure adequate capacity and reliability for its customers. In the 1970s and 1980s, community activist pressure led to delays in opening nuclear power plants at PECO's Limerick Generating Station, and the temporary cancellation of the planned Limerick 2 nuclear power plant. Despite these challenges, PECO continued to grow and evolve to meet the increasing demand for energy.
In addition to its energy business, PECO has a publishing arm, producing magazines such as "Railway Modeller" and "Continental Modeller". The company also owns a tourist attraction, Pecorama, which features a display of model railways, a shop, and the Beer Heights Light Railway. PECO has a strong focus on environmental leadership and community involvement, working to address issues such as gun violence and intimate partner violence in Philadelphia.
PECO has a rich history that spans over a century, and it continues to play a crucial role in powering the lives of people in the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond. The company's commitment to innovation, customer service, and community engagement remains a key part of its legacy.
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$24.98
PECO's competitors
PECO, formerly the Philadelphia Electric Company, is an energy company that provides electricity and natural gas services to customers in Pennsylvania, particularly in the greater Philadelphia area.
Since the state of Pennsylvania deregulated its energy market in 2011, PECO customers have had the option to purchase energy from local retail suppliers. This has introduced competition for PECO, with several other energy companies operating in the region.
Some of PECO's competitors include:
- Portland General Electric: One of PECO's main competitors, with employees earning an average yearly salary of $79,561.
- Keyspan
- NW Natural
- National Grid plc: This company has the most employees out of PECO's competitors, with 22,650 staff.
- OGE Energy Corp: The former CEO of this company served as the Chairman of Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company.
- Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E)
- Enogex, LLC: The former CEO of Enogex also served as the Chairman of OGE Energy Corp.
- Delmarva Power: This company acquired the Conowingo Power Company service area from PECO in 1995.
In addition to these energy companies, there are also other similar websites to PECO's website, peco.com, including pgworks.com, aquawater.com, and schedulepayment.com.
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PECO's customer service
PECO Energy Company, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, was founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1902. It is one of the oldest and largest utility companies in the United States, serving about 1.6 million electric customers and 511,000 natural gas customers in Pennsylvania.
The company has invested heavily in its infrastructure, spending over $1 billion in a single year on capital improvements, including general maintenance, system performance analysis, and expansion projects. PECO's distribution line voltages are 2,400/4,160 volts wye and 7,620/13,200 volts wye, with subtransmission voltages reaching 34,500 and 69,000 volts.
In terms of electricity sources, as of 2012, nuclear energy supplied 53% of PECO's power, fossils and renewables provided 12%, and purchased power contributed 35%. The company has a liquefied natural gas storage facility in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and a propane-air plant in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Since Pennsylvania transitioned to a deregulated energy market in 2011, customers have had the option to purchase energy from local retail suppliers rather than being limited to PECO. This change ended the 12-year period of capped electric rates for PECO customers, allowing them to be charged the actual costs of procurement from competitive market sources.
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PECO's energy sources
PECO, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, is one of the largest utility companies in Pennsylvania and the oldest utility company in the United States. The company was founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929. It currently operates in southeastern Pennsylvania and provides electricity to about 1.6 million customers and natural gas to over 511,000 customers.
PECO has a long history in the energy industry, dating back to the work of Thomas Edison. The company has faced pressure from community activists and environmental groups, such as the Earth Quaker Action Team, to increase its use of renewable energy sources and create local jobs. In the 1970s and 1980s, protests delayed the opening of nuclear power plants at its Limerick Generating Station and temporarily cancelled the planned Limerick 2 nuclear power plant.
PECO's utility business is capital-intensive, requiring significant investments in electric and gas delivery systems to ensure reliable service for its customers. The company has a large infrastructure, with 1,067 miles of transmission lines and 15,260 square miles of underground distribution cables. It also operates a liquefied natural gas storage facility in West Conshohocken, PA, and a propane-air plant in Chester, PA.
In addition to its energy sources and infrastructure, PECO prioritizes customer service, with representatives available during the week and emergency services accessible 24 hours a day. The company has approximately 2,300 employees working across various departments, including infrastructure maintenance and customer service.
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PECO's environmental initiatives
PECO, formerly the Philadelphia Electric Company, is one of the largest utility companies in Pennsylvania, serving about 1.6 million electric customers and 511,000 natural gas customers. The company has a long history in the city of Philadelphia and has been recognised as a leading organisation in its class.
PECO has made a commitment to protect and preserve the environment. As part of this commitment, PECO is implementing programs to reduce its carbon footprint and make clean energy solutions more accessible and affordable for its customers.
One of PECO's key environmental initiatives is its energy efficiency and conservation program, which was launched in 2009. This program helps customers save energy and money while reducing their overall energy use and environmental impact. PECO is also working to expand solar adoption in its region and was an active participant in the Pennsylvania Solar Future project led by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Additionally, PECO is making community business investments through its Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) to support startups working on innovative and impactful local projects. The company is also advocating for and helping to usher in cleaner, zero-emission transportation in underserved communities through proposed incentives to electrify transit routes in Environmental Justice areas.
PECO is also investing in modernising its energy infrastructure to make it more resilient in the face of intensifying weather patterns and developing more efficient ways to manage and modernise the grid. The company is further demonstrating its commitment to the environment through habitat restoration, vegetation management, and its Green Region Grant programs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are other electric companies other than PECO. Nordic Energy Services is an independently owned alternative retail electric supplier.
PECO, formerly known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, is an energy company founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929. It is the largest utility supplier in Pennsylvania, delivering electricity to 1.6 million customers and natural gas to over 500,000 customers.
You can switch energy suppliers by comparing electricity prices and suppliers online. You can also call PECO's customer service line at 1-800-494-4000 to discuss your options.
