Hybrid Vehicles to Help PECO Reduce Costs During Skyrocketing Gasoline Prices

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 6 -- Twenty-six Ford Escape electric hybrid SUVs, added to PECO's vehicle fleet recently, are expected to help save the company at least $1,387 a month during the next several months.

The hybrid vehicles join PECO's fleet of more than 1,303 heavy and light duty trucks and SUVs. In 2004 the company spent nearly $3.3 million in fueling costs and anticipates a 20 percent increase in 2005 due to increased gasoline costs.

The combination gasoline and electric Ford Escapes operate in electric- only mode when the vehicles travel at low speeds or idle at a stop. As a result, they provide an estimated 50 percent improvement in city / highway fuel economy when compared to conventional models.

The 26 hybrid vehicles were part of a larger 50-vehicle purchase by Exelon, PECO's parent company. The remaining vehicles are being used in the Chicago region by PECO's sister utility ComEd. The vehicles are being used throughout each region by operations field supervisors and inspectors.

As part of a nationwide pilot program, both PECO and ComEd will be among the first utilities in the nation to test two new hybrid bucket trucks currently being manufactured in Illinois and Ohio. The hybrid bucket truck is expected to arrive for use by PECO in spring 2006.

In addition to reduced fuel costs, hybrid vehicles provide other environmental benefits including helping to reduce pollution. Locally PECO also utilized light duty vehicles capable of operating on compressed natural gas, one of the cleanest fossil fuels.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation . PECO serves 1.5 million electric and 460,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2004, the company delivered 37.5 million megawatt hours (mWh) of electricity and 87.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.49 billion in revenue for Exelon. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.