Pepco announced Thursday that its customers experienced record reliability in 2024 and highlighted its ongoing summer readiness efforts during a demonstration event at the company’s Benning Service Center in northeast Washington.
Pepco’s infrastructure upgrades and implementation of innovative, smart technology have fortified the local energy grid, helping to prevent avoidable outages and reinforcing the system against severe summer storms and extreme weather conditions. This work has led to a 57% reduction in the frequency of outages over the past 10 years.
In preparation for the summer season, Pepco crews are diligently working to inspect and monitor the energy grid so customers stay connected throughout any challenges summer may bring. This includes inspecting and upgrading equipment, trimming trees away from power lines, building new underground equipment and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cables, reducing the likelihood of customer outages and increasing the company’s ability to quickly respond should one occur.
Teams across the company are also participating in drills and proactive planning efforts to keep storm response skills sharp. These proactive measures are essential to maintaining a robust and resilient energy grid, helping ensure customers experience minimal disruptions during the summer when energy demand is highest.
“As we gear up for the summer season, I am incredibly proud of the dedicated efforts our team has put into ensuring that our customers experience the highest level of reliability and support,” said Jaclyn Cantler, vice president of electric operations at Pepco. “Our mission is to keep our communities powered and safe, and we are dedicated to being there for our customers every step of the way. This includes navigating the unique challenges summer brings, from severe storms to extreme heat that can lead to increased energy usage as customers use more energy to cool their homes and businesses, potentially driving higher bills.”
Just as Pepco prepares, customers should prepare too. While Pepco works to prevent as many outages as possible, severe storms can cause damage and power outages. Visit pepco.com/StormPrep for important storm readiness resources, including how to prepare for an approaching storm, how to properly use generators if power is lost, what to expect after storms and how to stay safe.
Pepco is also here to help customers manage their energy use to help keep costs down and find support if needed. Here are a few tips and resources customers can start using now:
- Enroll in budget billing. This program offers predictable monthly payments based on your electricity usage over the past 12 months, helping avoid seasonal spikes in bills.
- Check your thermostat. If health permits, keep your thermostat temperature higher during the summertime. You can save as much as 10% a year on cooling costs by turning your thermostat up 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.
- Request a Quick Home Energy Check Up. For custom recommendations for your home, customers in Maryland can request a no-cost Quick Home Energy Check-up. An energy analyst will help customers understand how their home uses energy, and they may receive energy-efficient products installed at no cost. Customers in the District can visit dcseu.com for information about available energy efficiency programs in that region.
- Save energy and money through “My Account.” Your Pepco online account contains tools and information that allow you to track and manage your energy use. You can also sign up to receive notifications if your energy usage is trending higher than usual.
Customers can learn more about these resources and explore other energy savings and assistance programs at pepco.com/BillSupport.
