Summer Swelter Is No Sweat For PECO
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's been a hot stretch in a very steamy summer, but the local energy company continues to hum along.
PECO has been keeping up with demand and has not been near record usage this summer, according to spokesman Greg Smore. He says in recent years, the company has spent a lot of money improving infrastructure to keep power flowing to air conditioners and fans.
"We've been continuing to invest in our electric system to help us prepare for increased demand caused by hot weather," Smore said. "This includes upgraded substation equipment, new wires and polls, further equipment inspections and also our preventative maintenance programs.
Smore credits customer, too. He says they have done a lot in recent years to cut back on usage -- keeping blinds closed during the heat of the day, using programmable thermostats and buying energy-efficient appliances.
"As more customers continue to invest in these types of energy-efficient equipment and use power more wisely," Smore said, "we're starting to see not as much demand on our system."