[RP Town Announce] Important Information from Pepco About Summer Readiness

[Jessica Barnes]

Good morning Everyone,

With summer just around the corner, at Pepco we have been hard at work, prepping our systems, and testing our processes and procedures, all part of our efforts to provide safe and reliable service for our 842,000 electric customers all summer long.

At Pepco, we are committed to providing our customers with a modern, reliable and resilient energy grid, all to provide the service our customers have come to expect. To support this effort, over the last five years, we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize the local grid and to help reinforce it against extreme weather events.

This work includes installing new, more modern equipment, stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable, and trimming trees, which cause about 40 percent of power outages for customers each year. At Pepco, we are using innovative technologies to improve system reliability, such as specialized equipment that can automatically restore service more quickly or isolate damage. This work is essential in helping to prevent those outages that can be prevented.

Because of these efforts, during the past five years, the number of electric outages in Maryland has decreased 49 percent and outage length has been reduced by 13 percent. In 2017, our customers experienced the lowest average number of electric outages in the company's history, as well as some of the fastest restoration times ever.

In addition to modernizing and reinforcing the local energy grid, Pepco conducts emergency response drills and completes testing of computer and emergency systems as part of our seasonal preparedness efforts.

We also enjoy the benefits of now being part of one of the largest energy service companies in the country. As part of the Exelon family of companies, we share best practices with our sister utilities - Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, and PECO - and participates in collaborative emergency response training exercises to ensure we can provide seamless support and resources to another Exelon company during storm or emergency restoration efforts.

Just like Pepco prepares for summer, customers should also be ready, too. Summer storms can result in power outages, and customers can take a few simple steps to be ready:

* Monitor weather reports regularly.
* Review your emergency action plans or business continuity plans. Know what actions you will take if the power goes out.
* Test your equipment. If you have a generator for your business, you should test it regularly.
* Plan a manual backup for work done on computers and cash registers.
* Ensure electronic door locks can be bypassed manually.
* If you have an emergency lighting system, make sure it's in good working
order.
* 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. Customers are asked to immediately report a downed wire by calling 1-877-PEPCO-62 (877-737-2662).

Find additional storm preparedness tips at pepco.com/storm.

When summer temperatures rise, customers also can take simple steps to help keep their energy costs down:

* 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.

Sincerely,


Tony Ruffin
Senior External Affairs Specialist
Pepco Region - Maryland Governmental & External Affairs
701 9th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20068
O: 202-872-3137


This Email message and any attachment may contain information that is proprietary, legally privileged, confidential and/or subject to copyright belonging to Exelon Corporation or its affiliates ("Exelon"). This Email is intended solely for the use of the person(s) to which it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivery of this Email to the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this Email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender and permanently delete this Email and any copies. Exelon policies expressly prohibit employees from making defamatory or offensive statements and infringing any copyright or any other legal right by Email communication. Exelon will not accept any liability in respect of such communications. -EXCIP
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