​

Infrastructure projects to build a smarter, stronger and cleaner energy grid, result in lowest frequency of customer outages ever

MAYS LANDING, N.J. (Feb. 7, 2022) — Atlantic City Electric's efforts to reinforce the local energy grid, add new technology and smart devices and target projects to increase resiliency has resulted in customers experiencing the lowest frequency of electric outages ever in 2022. Work performed by the company to modernize and upgrade the grid against increasingly severe weather helped decrease the frequency of outages in 2022 from the previous record low in 2021, by more than six percent, and has improved by 56 percent over the past 10 years.

With more frequent and impactful weather events the result of climate change, customers interconnecting solar panels and electric vehicles with the grid increasing, and customers relying on a reliable energy grid more than ever before, Atlantic City Electric must continue to invest in the grid to ensure customers continue to experience reliable energy service.

"Delivering record level energy service is part of our broader effort to provide a world-class experience for our customers," said Tamla Olivier, chief operating officer of Pepco Holdings, which includes Atlantic City Electric. "This is the third consecutive year we've provided service at record level. This achievement is fueled by a sustained investment in the local energy grid and is a representation of the commitment that every Atlantic City Electric employee has to support our customers."

Each day, Atlantic City Electric performs work across South Jersey as part of the company's ongoing efforts to further improve reliability for customers. This work includes inspecting existing infrastructure, trimming trees that could impact the system, building new substations and new underground equipment, strengthening transmission and distribution lines and installing stronger, tree-resistant aerial cable. Atlantic City Electric also installs innovative technologies to improve system reliability, such as specialized equipment, like smart switches and reclosers, that can automatically detect issues and restore service faster by automatically isolating damage. These technologies have been a major driver in the continued reduction in outages for customers.

Atlantic City Electric continues to invest in projects and initiatives to reinforce the local energy grid while providing customers with the information they need to make informed choices on their energy use. The company's Smart Energy Network project includes the installation of more than 560,000 smart meters and associated equipment to support the continued effort to bring customers a world-class experience.

On the local energy grid, Atlantic City Electric completed several key projects in recent years, helping modernize the grid and enhance reliability for customers. In 2022, Atlantic City Electric performed work on several projects to further improve service reliability. These projects include:

• Atlantic City/Brigantine Community Reliability Project – Modernized an existing substation and rebuilt two critical transmission lines between Atlantic City and Brigantine to strengthen the local energy infrastructure against more extreme weather and improve reliability for local customers.
• Upper Township to Dennis Township Reliability Project - Upgrading an existing transmission line between Beesley's Point in Upper Township and Ocean View in Dennis Township by replacing the existing lattice transmission tower structures with new, stronger steel transmission poles that are prepared to handle more extreme weather and reduce the impacts of severe storms.
• Salem County Reliability Project - Upgrading approximately 3.5 miles of critical transmission line, that primarily runs along Route 130 between Penns Grove and Pennsville, to improve reliability for thousands of customers and meet the region's current and future energy needs. We are replacing the existing transmission line with stronger, state-of-the-art utility poles that are prepared to handle more extreme weather and reduce the impacts of severe storms.

For more information on reliability enhancement projects across South Jersey, visit atlanticcityelectric.com/Reliability.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric's online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on Twitter at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric's mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.