​Washington, D.C. (June 14, 2018) – With summer just around the corner, Pepco has been hard at work, prepping its systems, and testing its processes and procedures, all part of the company's efforts to provide safe and reliable service for its more than 842,000 customers this summer.

"We work hard every day to ensure that our customers have reliable service, because that is what they expect from Pepco and it is a commitment to our customers," said Donna Cooper, Pepco region president.  "As the official beginning of summer approaches, we want our valued customers and communities to know they can rely on Pepco to ensure that they have safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy year-round."

Pepco's work to prepare for the summer is part of more than $655 million the company spends each year to operate, maintain and modernize the local energy grid. Pepco completes hundreds of tasks to prepare for the summer season, including system work, testing and drills. Pepco employees across the region also are ready to respond to severe summer storms or emergencies, if needed. And, as part of the Exelon family of companies, Pepco can call on resources from sister utilities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Illinois to restore power faster after major storms.

As Pepco prepares for summer, customers should prepare too. Before severe weather hits, customers should:

• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.
• Charge cell phones and mobile devices.
• Have a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• Visit pepco.com/mobileapp and download our mobile app to report outages or other service issues and stay up to date should summer storms cause a service interruption to your home or business.  
• Remember, always stay away from any storm damaged electrical equipment, especially downed power lines. Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire by calling 1-877-737-2662 . 
• Review the manufacturer's instructions for safe operation of your generator. Do not connect a generator directly to your home's wiring. Never use a generator indoors, in an attached garage or other enclosed area. 

Higher temperatures can lead to higher energy bills, and Pepco provides a variety of programs to help every customer save money and energy. Customers can learn more about these programs at pepco.com/waystosave.

In addition, customers can save energy and lower their bills this summer by following a few simple tips:

• Turn it off: Turn off all unnecessary lighting and devices.
• Manage your thermostat: Keep thermostats at a constant, comfortable level when at home. Raise the thermostat setting for days of extreme heat to save even more. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust your home's temperature settings when you're away or sleeping.
• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed: About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows. Simply closing blinds and curtains, which act as a layer of insulation, can reduce heat in your home.
• Use ceiling fans to circulate air: For those without air conditioning, use ceiling fans or portable fans with the windows partially open to circulate fresh air into your home. For those with air conditioning, fans can be used to evenly distribute cool air.
• Use appliances wisely: Run appliances that produce heat (like clothes dryers, ovens and dishwashers) at night when it is cooler.

By taking a few simple steps, together we can be ready, stay safe, stay cool, and use less energy this summer.

Find additional information about Pepco by visiting pepco.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/pepcoconnect and on Twitter at twitter.com/pepcoconnect. Our mobile app is available at pepco.com/mobileapp.

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About Pepco: Pepco, a public utility owned by Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), provides safe and reliable energy to more than 842,000 electric delivery customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.