Following Philadelphia’s second-coldest January in the past decade, and more than 30 days dipping below 32 degrees already in 2026, PECO customers set new natural gas usage records and pushed the region’s electric and natural gas systems to peak performance. On four separate days in January, natural gas usage surpassed the previous 20 highest usage days.  

The extreme weather continued into early February, driving customer energy usage significantly above average during the extended cold snap. Feb. 7 set a new all‑time record for natural gas demand, with 844,926 MCF (thousand cubic feet) delivered to customers. The following day, Feb. 8, ranked as the second‑highest demand day in company history. 

Year-Round Preparations Help Maintain Reliable Performance 

In advance of winter, PECO strengthened its natural gas and electric systems through proactive inspections, system hardening, and targeted maintenance. The company is investing nearly $10 billion during the next five years across its electric and natural gas systems to complete targeted system enhancements and corrective maintenance, invest in new equipment, inspect equipment, and perform necessary tree trimming and other vegetation management. Continued infrastructure investments will also help the company meet the growing energy demands of customers and support future growth and development. These investments helped ensure the company could meet high customer demand throughout the cold snap.

“Throughout the season, PECO’s energy systems performed extremely well despite the increase in demand and extreme weather conditions,” said Nicole LeVine, PECO’s Chief Operating Officer. “The investments we continue to make in our electric and natural gas systems, including our LNG facility, are critical to our success. However, none of this would be possible without the hard work of our dedicated employees who work tirelessly throughout the year to prepare the energy grid for these extreme conditions.” 

Strategic Energy Sourcing Saves Customers Money 

PECO acquires electricity and natural gas on behalf of its customers who are not “shopping” with a third-party supplier. During the winter months, natural gas costs can fluctuate based on many factors — and the company works hard to control costs and purchase natural gas at the lowest price possible for customers.   

PECO manages costs and ensures reliability by buying natural gas gradually at fixed prices and by filling gas storage facilities during the summer when prices are usually lower. The company also operates a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage facility that helps support reliability in the winter. During periods of high demand, the facility converts the stored LNG back into gas to strengthen supply and serve customers when it’s needed most. 

During the most recent cold snap, the LNG plant operated for nine days, providing critical supply during peak demand periods. During that time, the facility vaporized approximately 362 million cubic feet of natural gas, supplementing the system and helping maintain reliability. This LNG support helped shield customers from higher gas market costs and keeps prices lower during extreme demand conditions, providing significant customer savings.  

• Based on a comparison of costs, the LNG volumes used cost approximately $16.3 million less than what it would have cost to purchase the same amount of natural gas on the daily market during that period. 

Tools, Tips, and Assistance to Help Customers Manage Costs 

PECO offers resources for customers to better understand the various components of their bill and the factors that may lead to increases. Additionally, the company highlights various ways to lower energy usage to save money and take advantage of available financial assistance programs: 

• Understand Your Bill: Each customer’s bill is unique and can vary from energy use, how energy efficient their home or business is, to their energy supplier. Customers can visit PECO to find additional information on understanding their energy bill, rates, and more.  
• My Account: Through PECO’s MyAccount, customers can track their energy use, get customized tips on how to reduce energy costs, and learn which appliances use the most energy. Also, customers can choose to get alerts about their current usage and other factors that could be impacting their bill, such as the recent extreme cold.   
• Budget Billing: Budget billing makes short-term fluctuations in monthly bills easier to handle by dividing annual energy costs evenly throughout the year. 
• Energy Assistance Programs: Energy efficiency programs, like energy assessments, can help customers save energy and money by identifying opportunities throughout a home. Learn more about PECO’s residential programs.
• Energy Saving Tips: By following a few simple tips and making straightforward energy efficiency improvements now, customers could save 20 percent or more on their winter heating bills.  

PECO has the largest suite of energy assistance programs and the highest customer assistance program participation in the state to help customers manage their energy bills. Income-qualified programs are available to help customers with past-due balance forgiveness, energy efficiency measures, hardship grants, and referrals for other services. The company also helps connect customers with programs that provide grant assistance for outstanding balances, like LIHEAP. Visit PECO for more information about assistance programs.

PECO has also expanded its Customer Relief Fund to support customers facing higher energy costs this winter. Starting March 2, more customers will be eligible for one-time grants, providing help when it’s needed most. Customers can learn more about available support and how to apply at PECO.