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Regulators Give Some Peco Customers to Marketer

11/30/2000

LCG, Nov. 30, 2000--The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said in a statement yesterday that about 299,000 residential customers of Peco Energy Co. will receive "discounted electricity" from the New Power Co. under a PUC-approved plan.

Kevin Cadden, communications manager for the commission, said customers would be randomlyselected from those who have not shopped for an alternative supplier under the state's electriccompetition program.

Customers choosing to participate in the program will receive power from New Power beginning inJanuary and continuing through January 2004. New Power is a joint effort by Enron, America Online andIBM. Peco will continue to provide transmission and distribution service.

"Peco will select customers who have not actively participated in our program," Cadden said."However, customers have the right to opt out of this program and to return to Peco at any time without a penalty."

The commission said the action is intended to create more competition in the Philadelphia area by allowing a competitor to provide default service to Peco customers. Customers who do not shop under the state's electric competition law automatically continue to receive electricity from their local electriccompany.