Hoping to ease the financial strain of rising energy costs during the summer months, PECO has unveiled a new $10 million Customer Relief Fund aimed at helping income-eligible households stay on top of their energy bills.

The initiative was recently announced at PA CareerLink Montgomery County during a joint press event with Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania Austin Davis, United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, and other community partners.

The fund, which is backed by PECO’s parent company, Exelon, will provide one-time $500 grants to qualifying limited- and moderate-income customers. The grants will be distributed and administered by United Way and made available beginning Monday, Aug. 4.

“The PECO Customer Relief Fund targets those who far too often fall between the cracks — hard-working families who make too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to be financially secure,” said Davis. “No Pennsylvanian should have to choose between keeping the lights on or paying for their prescriptions or groceries. That’s why today’s announcement is so important.”

The fund is expected to provide meaningful help as Pennsylvanians face a summer of increased electricity use coupled with high supply prices, a combination that can push energy bills to unaffordable levels for many families.

“PECO has deep roots in our community, and we’re proud to do our part during this challenging time as local families struggle with overall inflation pressures, including energy bills,” said David Vahos, PECO’s President and CEO. “PECO provides a critical service that keeps our communities safe, healthy, and strong. The PECO Customer Relief Fund allows us to provide immediate relief for customers struggling with high energy supply costs while continuing to work with state and local officials on forward-looking solutions.”

To qualify for the program, customers must be in arrears on their electric bills and fall between 151 percent and 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four, that means an annual income between $48,547 and $96,450. Those who meet the criteria will receive a $500 credit directly applied to their PECO bill.

Customers can apply through the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey starting on Aug. 4.

“At United Way, our mission is to fight poverty and expand opportunity for every person in every community we serve,” said Bill Golderer, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. “The PECO Customer Relief Fund will provide vital support to families who are working hard but still struggling to make ends meet. We are proud to partner with PECO to deliver meaningful, immediate relief — and to continue our work together toward long-term solutions that lift more families out of poverty.”

While the Customer Relief Fund is a one-time initiative, PECO emphasized that it’s just one part of a larger effort to make energy more affordable for all customers. The company already offers a variety of support programs, including:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Customer Assistance Program (CAP), and Matching Energy Assistance Fund (MEAF)
• Customizable customer tools and resources to manage their energy more efficiently through My Account
• Energy assistance finder tools available that can connect our customers with other potential financial assistance options, bill management options, and even energy-efficiency programs that can help reduce overall usage amounts and serve to lower energy cost

Earlier this year, PECO connected 140,000 customers to assistance programs, delivering more than $170 million in energy-related support.

Learn more about the comprehensive set of energy assistance and bill support programs at PECO.