ComEd 2005 Annual Report Download - page 22

Exelon at a Glance
comed and peco – energy delivery operations
In 2005, ComEd and PECO continued to share best prac-
tices that have led to improved efficiencies, reliability
performance and meeting of commitments. For instance,
the utilities initiated new storm response processes that
significantly reduced the duration of outages caused by
storms. Each utility met key commitments to reinforce
system reliability, and each is placing a renewed emphasis
on customer satisfaction.
ComEd achieved improvements in several key areas in
2005 while overcoming a number of challenges, such as
experiencing one of the hottest summers on record in the
Chicago area and two mid-year substation fires. The com-
pany recorded its fourth consecutive yearly improvement
in its customer satisfaction score, lowered average outage
duration by 20 percent, and reduced the average number
of outages per customer by 3 percent. ComEd’s already
strong safety record improved further.
In 2005, ComEd also committed more than $4 million to
help customers manage their energy bills as they faced
extreme summer and winter weather. Plus it installed
one of the Midwest’s largest solar energy systems atop
the Social Security Administration Building in Chicago.
PECO focused its efforts during 2005 on key regulatory
issues, improving customer communications and satisfac-
tion, maintaining the system during peak load periods,
and positive employee engagement.
PECO secured approval of the Exelon-PSEG merger in
Pennsylvania with a comprehensive settlement with key
stakeholder groups who had intervened in the case.
Customer satisfaction scores improved following increased
efforts to promote a customer-centric culture and gain
greater recognition for community involvement and
improved operation performance. PECO employees spent
several weeks restoring power in Florida, Mississippi, and
West Virginia communities that were ravaged by hurricanes
Rita and Katrina. The company also expanded consumer
outreach, publicity and advertising later in the year as
customers were facing sharply rising natural gas and elec-
tricity prices.
In 2005, the utility reduced its average outage duration and
improved its already distinguished safety record, earning
safety recognition from the American Gas Association and
the Energy Association of Pennsylvania. From an environ-
mental perspective, PECO Wind enrolled more than 10,000
residential customers in the premium wind energy pro-
gram and received the Department of Energy’s New Green
Energy Program of the Year Award.
New Governance Structure for ComEd
ComEd announced a new slate of directors and senior
officers to affirm that ComEd is an independent entity,
separate from parent Exelon. The new governance struc-
ture strengthens ComEd’s ability to successfully manage
some potentially difficult financial and strategic issues as
Illinois completes its transition to a restructured electric
industry. ComEd also is in a better position to support
the best interests of its customers.
As part of that transition to a competitive, open market
for electricity beginning in 2007, ComEd made two key
regulatory filings with the Illinois Commerce Commission
in 2005. The first filing requested approval of a procurement
mechanism to buy the power ComEd’s customers need
after the company’s current power purchase agreements
expire at the end of 2006. The ICC approved ComEd’s reverse
auction proposal in January 2006 as the method for
purchasing power on behalf of its customers. The second
filing requested an increase in ComEd's delivery service
rate to maintain reliability and provide for growth. A deci-
sion on the delivery case is expected in the third quarter
of 2006.
By the Numbers
ComEd, with about 5,500 employees, serves about 3.7 million
electric customers in Chicago and Northern Illinois. PECO
and its 2,100 employees serve about 1.5 million electric
customers and more than 470,000 natural gas customers
in Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania. ComEd
and PECO collectively distribute about 131,100 gigawatt-
hours of electricity annually to customers through 55,900
miles of overhead lines and 48,300 miles of underground
lines. PECO provides about 87.5 billion cubic feet of natural
gas annually through 11,800 miles of pipelines.
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