MAYS LANDING, N.J. - Atlantic City Electric is providing free trees to its residential customers through the Energy-Saving Trees program, which helps customers conserve energy and reduce household energy bills through strategic tree planting. Customers can reserve up to two free trees per household at www.arborday.org/ace or by calling 1-855-670-2773.

Trees were made available first to customers who were on the waiting list from the 2015 program. Those customers received an email from the Arbor Day Foundation. The remaining trees are being made available, while supplies last, to all residential customers starting today, March 21.

An online tool can help Atlantic City Electric customers find the most strategic location for planting and estimate the annual savings that will result from the trees. Customers may call the Arbor Day Foundation for technical help and other questions at 1-855-234-3801.

Shade trees can reduce residential cooling costs by as much as 30 percent, while in the winter trees reduce wind speeds and infiltration of cold air into buildings, thereby reducing heating costs. The Arbor Day Foundation calculates that the 1,350 trees are estimated to produce nearly $295,000in energy savings within 20 years. The 18- to 36-inch trees that will be delivered directly to customers include American beech, bald cypress, river birch, sugar maple and white dogwood, and are in small containers that allow for the growth of a better root system.

"Once again we are pleased to support the Energy-Saving Trees program which benefits the environment and helps beautify the communities in our service territory," said Vince Maione, Atlantic City Electric region president. "In addition, the program can help our customers save money on their air-conditioning and heating expenses since trees provide shade in the summer and let the sun in during the winter."

The Energy-Saving Trees online tool was created by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Davey Institute, a division of the Davey Tree Expert Co., and uses peer-reviewed scientific research from the USDA Forest Service's i-Tree Software to calculate estimated benefits.

Find additional information on how to save energy by visiting www.atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.