MAYS LANDING, N.J. - Atlantic City Electric reminds the public of the dangers of attempting to steal copper and other wire from the company's lines, substations and equipment yards.

"Safety is a core value at Atlantic City Electric. We are not only concerned for our employees' safety, but for the safety of our customers." Those who attempt to remove copper and wire from utility lines and electrical equipment are endangering their lives as well as the lives of others." said Charlie Wimberg, Atlantic City Electric Vice President. "If ground wires have been stolen or fences cut that expose dangerous electrical equipment, anyone near the area could accidently get injured or killed.

Altering the lines also impairs the reliability of the electric distribution system. Customers could experience uneven voltage, which can cause power outages as well as damage to electronic equipment and light bulbs.

Theft of company materials means that Atlantic City Electric crews must spend many hours repairing equipment, safeguarding facilities and replacing stolen wire. The repair and replacement cost of damaged equipment far exceeds the scrap value received for the wire. "Unfortunately, the time spent to repair and replace equipment due to wire theft is time that is not being spent on other important work for customers," Wimberg said. "Eventually, the costs of replacing and repairing damaged equipment are borne by all Atlantic City Electric customers in much the same way that theft in department and grocery stores affects the price of goods."

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Atlantic City Electric, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric delivery services to more than 548,000 customers in southern New Jersey.