PHILADELPHIA (December 14, 2022) — With the heating season cranking up, PECO customers will soon be using more natural gas to heat their homes and businesses.

Just as PECO prepares its natural gas and electric systems for winter, customers should prepare, too. Heating systems should be checked now and inspected by a qualified technician to ensure safe and efficient operation for the season ahead.

“Safety is always our top priority and with the winter months coming, we know many of our customers will be increasing their use of natural gas,” said Amy Hamilton, vice president of Gas Operations. “We are asking customers to put safety first, and it’s so important that they maintain their natural gas equipment and know how to recognize and report any natural gas issues.”

Customers and residents also should remember the following important information about natural gas:

• Natural gas has no natural odor, so an odorant is added to help detect when a leak occurs.
• Promptly reporting a natural gas odor plays a critical role in ensuring safety.

If you smell natural gas, call PECO at 1-800-841-4141, 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.

• If you smell a faint odor of natural gas, check to see if a pilot light is out or if a burner is partially on. If you cannot find the source, call PECO.
• If you smell a very strong odor of natural gas:
  • Evacuate immediately and call 911 and PECO from outside
  • Do not turn any electrical switches on or off
  • Do not use devices such as phones, radios, doorbells, or flashlights
  • Do not smoke, strike a match, or use a lighter
  • Do not start a motor vehicle near the building or source of odor
• If you smell natural gas outside, especially near a natural gas meter, call PECO.

During winter storms, customers also should remember to:

• Keep exhaust vents for natural gas appliances like water heaters, furnaces and fireplaces clear of snow and ice to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide.
• Keep natural gas meters clear of snow and ice by using a broom or brush to gently clear the area around the meter.

PECO works hard to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy for more than 545,000 natural gas customers. The company inspects and maintains approximately 13,000 miles of natural gas transmission, distribution, and service lines. In addition, PECO consistently ranks as one of the best companies for natural gas odor response reliability, with the goal of responding in less than one hour.

Increased usage and higher energy prices can also lead to higher bills. Customers are encouraged to take the following steps to manage their usage and bills:

• Monitor usage through MyAccount and track energy use, set up alerts, get tips on how to reduce costs, and more.
• Increase energy efficiency by visiting WaysToSave to learn about energy assessments and how to qualify for rebates and incentives. Consider Bill Relief and Financial Assistance to help with higher winter energy bills.

For more information about natural gas safety, including a video on what to do if you smell gas, visit peco.com/gassafety.