Exelon Corporation is one of the largest and most influential energy companies in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, the company focuses on the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas to millions of residential and business customers. Understanding how Exelon operates can help you manage your utility services more effectively and stay informed about the energy infrastructure in your region.
What Is Exelon Corporation?
Exelon is a Fortune 200 company that serves as a parent organization for several major local utility companies. Unlike companies that focus primarily on generating power at plants, Exelon’s primary role is the delivery of energy. They maintain the wires, poles, and pipes that bring electricity and gas directly to your home or office.
The company operates in several states across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Because they manage critical infrastructure, Exelon is heavily regulated by state and federal agencies to ensure service remains reliable and affordable for the public. As of 2022, the company underwent a significant transition by spinning off its power generation business into a separate entity called Constellation Energy.
The Six Utility Companies Under Exelon
Most customers do not receive a bill labeled “Exelon.” Instead, they interact with one of the six local utility companies that Exelon owns and operates. Each of these companies serves a specific geographic area and has its own customer service department.
- Atlantic City Electric: Provides electric service to southern New Jersey.
- BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric): Serves the Baltimore area and central Maryland with both electricity and natural gas.
- ComEd (Commonwealth Edison): Based in Chicago, it provides electricity to northern Illinois.
- Delmarva Power: Serves customers in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland with electricity and gas.
- PECO (Philadelphia Electric Company): Provides electric and gas services to the Philadelphia region and southeastern Pennsylvania.
- Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Company): Serves Washington, D.C., and surrounding communities in Maryland.
What Services Does Exelon Provide?
Exelon’s main responsibility is energy delivery. This involves a complex network of high-voltage transmission lines and lower-voltage distribution lines that connect the broader energy grid to individual neighborhoods. They also manage thousands of miles of underground natural gas mains and service lines.
In addition to physical delivery, Exelon companies manage the metering and billing process. They are responsible for reading your meter, calculating your usage, and sending out monthly statements. They also offer energy efficiency programs designed to help customers lower their monthly costs and reduce their environmental impact.
Infrastructure Maintenance
A significant portion of Exelon’s work involves maintaining and upgrading the energy grid. This includes trimming trees away from power lines, replacing aging poles, and upgrading transformers. These proactive measures are essential for preventing outages during storms and extreme weather events.
Smart Grid Technology
Exelon has invested heavily in “smart grid” technology. This includes digital meters that communicate directly with the utility company. These tools allow for faster detection of outages and provide customers with real-time data about their energy consumption habits.
The 2022 Split: Exelon and Constellation
If you previously knew Exelon as a company that operated nuclear power plants, it is important to understand the 2022 corporate separation. Exelon decided to split into two independent, publicly traded companies to focus more clearly on distinct parts of the energy industry.
Exelon kept the utility businesses (the “pipes and wires”) while the power generation assets, including the nation’s largest fleet of nuclear plants, became Constellation Energy. Today, if you have a question about where your power is actually made, you would look to Constellation or other suppliers. If you have a question about the lines coming into your house, you look to Exelon.
How to Manage Your Exelon Utility Account
Managing your account with an Exelon-owned utility is straightforward. Each subsidiary offers a digital platform and a mobile app to help you stay on top of your energy needs. Here are the most common ways to manage your service:
- Online Portals: Visit the website of your specific utility (e.g., ComEd.com or PECO.com) to create an account. You can view your history, sign up for paperless billing, and set up recurring payments.
- Mobile Apps: Each utility has a dedicated app available for iOS and Android. These apps are particularly useful for viewing outage maps and receiving push notifications during emergencies.
- Budget Billing: To avoid high bills during the peak of summer or winter, you can sign up for budget billing. This averages your annual energy costs into predictable monthly payments.
- Payment Assistance: If you are struggling to pay your bill, Exelon utilities offer various assistance programs and can connect you with state-funded energy grants like LIHEAP.
What to Do During a Power Outage
When the power goes out, your local Exelon utility is responsible for fixing it. You should never assume that the company already knows your power is out. Reporting it immediately helps their crews locate the source of the problem faster.
You can report an outage via the utility’s mobile app, their website, or by calling their automated phone line. Most Exelon companies also offer a text-messaging service where you can text “OUT” to a specific number to report a problem and “STAT” to get an update on the estimated restoration time.
Safety Warning: If you see a downed power line, stay at least 35 feet away and call 911 or your utility company immediately. Never touch a wire, even if it does not appear to be sparking, as it could still be energized.
Exelon’s Focus on Sustainability
Exelon has committed to significant environmental goals, including achieving a “Path to Clean” by 2050. This involves reducing operational emissions and helping the cities they serve transition to electric vehicles and cleaner energy sources. They are also working to modernize the grid to better handle renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
By investing in cleaner infrastructure, Exelon aims to provide a more resilient energy system that can withstand the challenges of climate change. This includes reinforcing substations against flooding and using advanced sensors to automatically reroute power when a line is damaged.
Conclusion
Exelon Corporation plays a vital role in the daily lives of millions of Americans by ensuring that electricity and gas are delivered safely and reliably. Whether you are a customer of ComEd, PECO, BGE, or one of their other subsidiaries, knowing how to access your account and report issues is the best way to ensure smooth service. By utilizing their digital tools and energy-saving programs, you can take control of your utility costs while supporting a more modern energy grid.
For more practical advice on managing your home services, explore our other articles on how to lower your electric bill and what to do during a natural gas emergency to stay safe and informed.