Help those less fortunate stay warm this winter by making a donation to PECO's Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF). All donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by PECO. Philadelphia Phillies Shortstop Jimmy Rollins and his wife recently supported the program by donating $7,500. This is the second year Rollins has supported the program.

The program, which is funded by voluntary contributions from caring citizens, is a hardship fund designed to help low-income customers restore their service or avoid service termination. Customers who qualify for the program are eligible to receive a grant of up to $1,000 every two years.

"Johari and I wanted to make a contribution during the holiday season in hopes that a few families can put their minds at ease during Christmas time," said Rollins. "Whether it's making sure the electric bill is paid on time or purchasing presents for kids, we hope these funds can bring joy to Pennsylvanians in need."

Low-income families from all areas whose service is terminated or in threat of termination can benefit from MEAF. To be eligible, annual household income cannot exceed 175 percent of the Federal poverty income guidelines. Customers are only eligible if they have not received a MEAF grant in the last 24 months, and if the grant can bring their account balance to zero. If you are interested in making a donation to the program, or if you or someone you know may qualify, call 1-800-403-6806.

PECO manages the largest and most comprehensive Universal Services program in the state. In addition to MEAF, PECO has many other programs to help customers manage their energy costs and save money. Other assistance programs include:

  • The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Federal cash and crisis grants for qualifying low-income households.
  • The Customer Assistance Program (CAP): A discounted rate for low-income customers.
  • Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP): A program that provides year- round conservation and weatherization assistance for qualified households.
  • Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES): A referral and information service designed to assist customers who have temporary personal or financial hardships that prevent the payment of their utility bill.

PECO customers who are not eligible for low-and fixed-income assistance but are having trouble managing their energy costs should also consider taking advantage of other programs including budget billing. Budget billing makes short-term fluctuation in monthly bills much easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year.

All customers also can save money on their monthly energy bills by using energy as efficiently as possible. To find ways to save energy and money and to take the PECO Smart Home e-Audit, visit www.PECO.com/SmartIdeas.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 490,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 87.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 39.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2010. 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.

PECO
Ben Armstrong
215-841-4137 or 215-841-5555
benjamin.armstrong@exeloncorp.com