Hybrid Bucket Truck Highlights PECO's Alternate Fuel Fleet

PECO unveils hybrid bucket truck and showcases samples of all alternate fuel

                                 vehicles

  WHAT:   A 45-ft. electric and diesel hybrid bucket truck (the first of its
          type in the area), compressed natural gas Ford F150 pickup truck,
          and Ford Hybrid Escape SUV will be on display highlighting PECO's
          ongoing commitment to the environment and the company's strategy
          to deal with continued high fuel costs.  The company estimates
          total fuel costs for its 1,300-Vehicle fleet will increase about
          27 percent in 2006 to more than $4.5 million in light of higher
          fuel costs.

  WHEN:   Wednesday, June 7
          Media Availability:  10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

  WHERE:  PECO Philadelphia Headquarters
          Main Office Building
          2301 Market Street
          Philadelphia, PA  19103

BACKGROUND: PECO is among the first utilities in the nation to test a hybrid bucket truck. The combination diesel and electric powered truck is expected to improve fuel economy up to 60 percent compared to diesel-only fueled trucks. The new hybrid truck also allows the operator to shut off the diesel engine and operate the bucket on an electric motor for up to two hours - reducing noise and fuel consumption. In the future, the use of hybrid vehicles also will help PECO reduce the amount of time a customer is without power. The truck is capable of generating about 25 kilowatts of electricity, providing enough energy to power three to five average-sized homes while crews make repairs and restore service.

The truck joins PECO's fleet of more than 1,300 heavy and light duty trucks and SUVs, including 40 Ford Escape hybrids and six Ford F150 compressed natural gas vehicles. PECO was awarded a grant towards the purchase of the hybrid bucket truck. The grant was supported by The Department of Energy, the Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Program, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Diesel Difference.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation . PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 470,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2005, the company delivered 38.7 million megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity and 85.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.91 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.

PRNewswire -- June 5