PHILADELPHIA, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently ranked PECO WIND in the top ten green power programs based on total number of customers. The announcement is part of the DOE's annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. More than 600 utilities across the Unites States now offer voluntary programs allowing customers to choose electricity generated from renewable resources such as wind and solar.

"We are so pleased with the Department of Energy's ranking and recognition of PECO WIND," said Denis O'Brien, president of PECO. "We believe in providing our customers with many choices, including a choice in how their electricity is generated. We, along with the tens of thousands of customers who have chosen PECO WIND, understand the importance of investing in electricity generated by alternate methods."

More than 24,000 customers have chosen to purchase PECO WIND, placing it seventh on the DOE's list. Since its launch in May 2004, PECO WIND has become one of the largest and fastest growing green power programs in the country. The environmental benefit is the same as planting about 5.3 million trees or not driving 68 million miles. Provided through a partnership with wind energy marketer Community Energy, Inc., PECO WIND is a clean, environmentally friendly wind power option for customers.

Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy, Inc., PECO's wind energy supply partner, said: "We applaud the success of this program and the enthusiasm of PECO customers. The PECO WIND program leads the field in so many ways, it's not surprising to see it move up the charts on the Department of Energy's top 10 programs. PECO and its customers have put Pennsylvania in the lead on new, clean wind generation."

The first wind energy product offered by a utility in Pennsylvania, PECO WIND is available to PECO's residential and business customers in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties and is supplied by a new wind power facility in Waymart, PA, near the Poconos. PECO WIND is offered to residential customers in 100-kilowatt hour (kWh) blocks for an additional monthly fee of about $2.50 per block, added directly to customers' monthly PECO bill. For more information about PECO WIND or to sign up, customers can call 1-866-WIND-321, or visit http:// www.pecowind.com.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 470,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2005, the company delivered 38.7 million megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity and 85.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas to residential, business and institutional customers. PECO's energy delivery services generated $4.91 billion in revenue for Exelon. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.

Contact: Cathy Engel PECO, An Exelon Company 2301 Market Street, S14-1 Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-841-4492 or 215-841-5555 SOURCE PECO