Programs Reduce Electricity Demand Due to
Unseasonable Heat

For Immediate Release
May 8, 2000

At 1:45 p.m. today, Pepco activated its Kilowatchers Club programs to reduce demand for electricity this afternoon due to the region`s current unseasonably early hot spell and to ensure a reliable supply of power for all customers. All PJM Power Pool companies serving 22 million people in the mid-Atlantic area have activated similar reduction programs. A number of generating units in the Power Pool are undergoing scheduled maintenance as is normal at this time and prior to the summer air conditioning season. They are scheduled to be in service later this month.

More than 207,000 residential customers volunteer to allow Pepco to cycle their air conditioners off-and-on periodically on weekday afternoons for no longer than six hours.

These programs are designed to reduce customer demand and avoid the need for mandatory conservation actions by all customers. Other voluntary conservation actions Pepco requests at this time include:

• Close curtains and blinds to keep the sun out and retain cooler air inside your home:
• Do not open refrigerators or freezers and turn off all unnecessary lights.
• Postpone using major heat-producing appliances like electric stoves and clothes dryers until the cooler evening hours.
• Saving computer information frequently.