For Immediate Release
November 2, 1999

Potomac Electric Power Company's corporate Web site, with interactive customer service features, ranked fifth among utility sites in an international survey by Anderson Consulting, a global management and technology consulting firm.

The top performing utility sites, the study reported, are indications these utilities are well-positioned to compete effectively in the online marketplace and to take advantage of utility deregulation by interacting with customers over the Internet. Compared with non-utility Web sites considered to be "best practice," the study ranked Pepco tenth behind No. 9-ranked Amazon.com, the Seattle-based Internet book seller.

The study surveyed 144 utility Web sites in the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia and Hong Kong for content and functionality of customer transactions. Characteristics of the top-ranked sites include the ability of customers to conduct online general account functions such as setting up an account, receiving and paying bills, obtaining real-time pricing information and monitoring energy consumption.

Since April, Pepco's residential customers have been able to receive and pay their bills online. HomePowerNet, an interactive feature to conduct home energy audits, was added in September, enabling customers to access online their 13-month billing history, audit their energy use and receive energy-saving recommendations tailored for their home. Commercial customers are able to monitor and analyze their energy consumption at 15-minute intervals. "The information is available at their convenience-whether they are just interested in learning how to save or to explain their energy use," said Carole Montoya, a Pepco product development analyst.

In addition to Pepco, the top five utility Web sites included Utility.com, New Energy Ventures, Florida Power & Light and Salt River Project.

The Washington area leads the nation in Internet access with nearly 60 percent of adults in the area online. Pepco serves nearly 700,000 customers in the District of Columbia and its Maryland suburbs. Pepco's Web address is www.pepco.com.