New Standard Offer Service rates Effective June 1

WASHINGTON - Standard Offer Service (SOS) supply rates recently approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission for Pepco's Maryland residential customers will result in an approximate decrease of 15 percent in their electric bills.

Pepco delivers electricity but does not generate it. The company purchases the electricity it needs for customers from competitive wholesale suppliers, who own power plants and produce electricity or who buy and sell it on the wholesale market. 

For Maryland residential customers, starting June 1 the new SOS rates will decrease the total annual bill by about 15 percent.  For a typical residential customer who uses about 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a month this will result in a monthly decrease by about $ 22.00, decreasing the overall bill from $150.69 to $128.65.

Earlier this year, the District of Columbia Public Service Commission (DCPSC) authorized a decrease in the supply rates for District Standard Offer Service customers. Beginning June 1, the change will decrease average monthly residential electricity bills by about 10 percent. The monthly bill for an average District residential SOS customer will decrease by about $10.00 adjusting the average bill from $97.66 to $87.72. 

SOS, the cost of what customers pay for electricity, represents about 71 percent of a residential customer's bill. SOS rates apply to customers who do not select an alternative energy supplier and are based on market prices obtained through a competitive bidding process approved by the Maryland and District of Columbia Public Service Commissions.

"This is good news for our customers, who will reap the benefits of contracts negotiated when energy costs were on the decline as opposed to the present rising fuel costs," said Thomas H. Graham President, Pepco Region. "I would encourage our customers to stretch their savings by conserving energy usage during the summer months." 

 Pepco offers the following summer cooling tips:

• Set thermostat at 78 degrees F, a reasonably comfortable and energy efficient indoor temperature. For every degree increased as health permits, customers can save 3 percent to 5 percent. 
• Consider using a ceiling fan with window air conditioners to spread cooled air to other rooms. Customers should be sure air conditioners are large enough to help cool the additional space.
• Clean or replace air conditioning filters monthly. Foam filters can be rinsed with water and wrung dry. Fiberglass filters need to be replaced.
• Install a whole-house ventilating fan in attics or in an upstairs window to help circulate air. Although not a replacement for a central air conditioning system, a fan is an effective way to stay comfortable on milder days.
• Use vertical louvers or awnings to keep out the sun. Close any draperies, blinds and shades.
• Keep lamps or television sets away from the thermostat. Heat from these appliances is sensed by the thermostat and could cause the system to run longer than necessary.
• For more energy saving tips, customers should visit pepco.com and log on to "My Account" to analyze energy bills and discover more ways to save.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 778,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.