PECO Utility Resources

PECO
Bill Breakdown

Philadelphia
Energy Company
(PECO)

1-800-494-4000

webagent@exeloncorp.com

www.peco.com

PECO
Outage Info

You Have The Power To
Choose Your Energy Supplier

  • ✓You can choose your own Energy Service Company (ESCO)
  • ✓PECO delivers your electricity & gas
  • ✓Compare top ESCOs side-by-side with updated rates
✓ Rates updated daily ✓ No service interruption ✓ No obligation
⚡
InstantFast, simple comparison
🛡️
SecureTrusted, protected form
📊
SimpleClear plan options

Shop Rates in 3 Simple Steps

No hidden fees, no interruptions in service — just better rates.

1

Tell Us Where You Live

Enter your ZIP code and usage details to see live offers available in your area.

2

See Your Options Instantly

Compare real-time rates from over 40 vetted energy suppliers. Filter by price, term, or renewable options.

3

Lock In Your Plan

Select your preferred plan and enroll online in minutes — with no service interruption.

About PECO

  • ✓PECO is an electric and natural gas utility serving southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
  • ✓PECO is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, with roots dating back to the Philadelphia Electric Company founded in 1881
  • ✓PECO supports residential and commercial customers with energy distribution, billing and payment services, outage response, and safety resources
Power lines in the Hudson Valley
Read full context

PECO Energy Company, historically known as the Philadelphia Electric Company, is an electric utility incorporated in Pennsylvania with a long legacy of serving the region’s growing population. For more than a century, PECO has delivered electricity across Philadelphia and nearby communities, supporting homes, commercial buildings, and critical infrastructure.

PECO operates as an electric distribution company. It does not sell electricity supply plans and does not deliver natural gas, though customers may receive company’s natural gas bills from separate gas utilities depending on location. PECO focuses on keeping the electric system energized, modern, and safe—especially during periods of increased demand, such as the winter season and peak summer cooling months.

PECO employees work year-round to inspect, repair, and upgrade electric systems so customers stay informed, connected, and protected.

🏛️ Programs & Resources

PECO's Programs, Resources & Community Incentives

PECO Electric Utilities is dedicated to helping customers make smarter energy choices for their homes and businesses. As a leading energy company, PECO Corporation offers a variety of programs and resources designed to boost energy efficiency and lower utility bills.

Read full context

ELECTRIC SERVICE, ACCOUNTS & BILLING

PECO provides essential electric service tools that help customers manage their account information, pay a bill, and track usage online. Customers can:

  • Create or access an online account
  • View electric usage, winter heating demand, and summer AC demand
  • Pay bills, set up budget billing plans, and manage money
  • Enroll in alerts for outages, weather events, or restoration updates

    • PECO customer service representatives are available by phone and online to assist with account questions, service changes, and scam awareness. Customers should always assume communications about payments or enrollment come from official PECO channels.

SAFETY, OUTAGES & STORM RESPONSE

Safety is a top priority for PECO—especially during severe weather, winter storms, and high-wind events. If customers encounter downed power lines, they should:

  • Treat the line as energized
  • Stay away and protect children, family members, and pets
  • Report the issue immediately using PECO’s outage reporting tools or phone number

    • During an outage, PECO customers can track restoration progress online, receive updates, and review safety details. PECO employees worked hard during major storms to restore power safely, repair damaged electric systems, and respond as quickly as conditions allow.

    PECO expects outages to occur during extreme weather, but advances in smart energy technology help crews respond faster and restore service more efficiently.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM MODERNIZATION & SMART ENERGY

PECO continues investing in smarter electric systems to meet increased demand and improve reliability across the region. These efforts include:

  • Strengthening power lines and substations
  • Using smart energy tools to detect outages and system issues
  • Improving restoration times during storms and winter weather

    • These upgrades help ensure the electric system remains reliable as households add electric heating, cooling, EVs, and other energy-intensive technologies.

Energy Services, Safety & System Modernization

  • ✓Smart Energy
  • ✓Storm Response
  • ✓Energy Efficency
  • ✓Customer Support (account, outages, billing)

Energy Efficiency & Customer Programs

PECO supports smart energy choices that help customers reduce demand, save money, and stay informed. Programs typically focus on energy efficiency upgrades for homes and commercial buildings, seasonal guidance for winter heating and summer AC use, and tools to help households manage energy demand and budgets. Customers can learn about available plans, rebates, and efficiency details on PECO’s official website.
Read full context

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CUSTOMER PROGRAMS

PECO supports smart energy choices that help customers reduce demand, save money, and stay informed. Programs typically focus on:

  • Energy efficiency upgrades for homes and commercial buildings
  • Seasonal guidance for winter heating and summer AC use
  • Tools to help households manage energy demand and budgets

Customers can learn about available plans, rebates, and efficiency details on PECO’s official website.

COMMUNITY & LEGACY

As a long-standing energy company rooted in Philadelphia, PECO remains active in the communities it serves. Through outreach, education, and partnerships, PECO supports families, children, and neighborhoods—helping customers stay safe, informed, and energized.

From its early history as the Philadelphia Electric Company to today’s modern electric utility, PECO’s legacy reflects a commitment to reliable service, customer protection, and powering daily life across the region.

PECO Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Pennsylvania a deregulated energy market?
Yes. Since January 2011, Pennsylvania has operated as a deregulated energy market. This allows customers to choose a third-party energy supplier for electricity or natural gas supply, while PECO continues to deliver the energy, maintain the system, and handle outages and emergencies.
What happens if I don’t choose a third-party supplier?
If a customer does not choose a third-party supplier, they receive default service from PECO. In this case, PECO purchases energy on the customer’s behalf through competitive market auctions and passes the cost through without profit markup.
What is PECO’s Price-to-Compare?
PECO’s Price-to-Compare (PTC) reflects the cost of energy supply under default service. It is designed to be a pass-through rate with no profit markup and uses a hedging program intended to reduce price volatility over time.
Why have some customers reported billing issues recently?
PECO introduced a new billing system during 2024–2025, which led to customer complaints related to billing delays, processing complications, and account adjustments. PECO has acknowledged the challenges and continues working to stabilize billing operations and improve customer experience.
View More Questions
Has PECO faced criticism from customers?
Yes. PECO has faced criticism related to high energy costs, customer service responsiveness, and billing system issues, particularly during periods of rising electricity prices and system transitions.
How much are PECO residential rates increasing?
As of 2025, residential electricity rates served by PECO have increased by nearly 50% over a five-year period, contributing to higher household energy costs—especially during peak summer cooling and winter heating seasons.
What assistance programs does PECO offer for customers struggling to pay bills?
PECO offers several assistance programs, including:
  • Customer Assistance Program (CAP) for low-income customers
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for heating costs
  • Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF) for additional bill support
  • Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) to help reduce energy usage
PECO also partners with United Way through a $10 million Customer Relief Fund, later expanded with an additional $2.5 million, to provide emergency grants for limited- and moderate-income households.
How many customers does PECO serve?
PECO serves approximately:
  • 1.6 million electric customers
  • Over 511,000 natural gas customers
This makes PECO the largest combination electric and natural gas utility in Pennsylvania.
Where does PECO operate?
PECO operates in southeastern Pennsylvania, covering a franchise utility area of approximately 2,100 square miles and serving a population of about 3.8 million people.
  • Electric service includes all of Philadelphia and parts of surrounding counties
  • Natural gas service covers all of Delaware County and most of Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery counties
What should I do during a power outage?
If the power goes out:
  • Check outside to see if your entire block is dark to confirm it’s a utility outage
  • Report outages online at peco.com/outages or by calling 1-800-841-4141
  • Track outage status and restoration updates through PECO’s outage tools
What should I do if I see downed power lines or smell natural gas?
Leave the area immediately and do not attempt to investigate. Then call PECO right away. Downed power lines and natural gas odors should always be treated as emergencies. PECO representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle emergency calls.
Does PECO offer energy efficiency programs?
Yes. PECO offers several programs, including PECO Smart Ideas, which provides:
  • Rebates for energy-efficient appliances
  • HVAC tune-ups
  • ENERGY STAR® water heaters and appliances
  • LED lighting discounts
  • Home Energy Assessments to identify wasted energy and improve comfort
Why does energy use peak in summer and winter?
PECO electric sales typically peak:
  • In summer due to air-conditioning demand
  • In winter due to electric heating loads
Natural gas sales are generally highest during winter due to heating needs.
Does PECO invest in renewable energy?
PECO generates approximately 0.14% of its energy portfolio from solar energy and purchases enough solar power to supply about 2,000 residential households.
Does PECO own natural gas facilities?
Yes. PECO owns:
  • A propane-air plant in Chester, PA with a storage capacity of 1,980,000 gallons
  • A liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage facility in West Conshohocken, PA with a capacity of approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet
What infrastructure investments has PECO made?
PECO has invested billions of dollars to improve infrastructure and system reliability. This includes:
  • Over $7.8 billion invested over five years to enhance storm resilience and service quality
  • Historical capital expenditures of approximately $400 million annually, with most funding directed toward electric operations
What are PECO’s electric system specifications?
PECO’s distribution system operates at voltages including:
  • 2,400 / 4,160 volts (wye)
  • 7,620 / 13,200 volts (wye)
When was PECO founded?
PECO was originally founded as the Philadelphia Electric Company in 1881 and was incorporated in 1929. It became part of Exelon Corporation in 2000 following its merger with Unicom Corp.
Does PECO generate electricity?
Historically, PECO delivered 39.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008, generating $5.5 billion in revenue. Today, PECO primarily functions as a distribution utility, purchasing energy on behalf of customers rather than owning large-scale generation assets.
Should I consider backup power for my home?
Yes. Emergency power systems can include:
  • Portable generators for short outages
  • Automatic standby generators for whole-home coverage
  • Battery backup systems
Backup power can keep refrigerators, medical equipment, heating or cooling systems, and essential electronics running during extended outages. A licensed electrical contractor must install a transfer switch for standby generators to prevent backfeeding into PECO lines. Planning ahead with a trusted contractor before storms provides a major advantage during outages.