PECO CEO and President David Vahos makes remarks on July 30, 2025 at PA CareerLink Montgomery County as the energy company launches a relief fund for customers. (Rachel Ravina – MediaNews Group).
The announcement was made at the PA CareerLink Montgomery County facility in Norristown
A $10 million PECO Customer Relief Fund couldn’t come soon enough for thousands of households dealing with scorching temperatures and rising energy costs this summer across the Philadelphia region.
Some 17,000 low-and-moderate income customers could receive $500 toward existing energy bills in arrears, according to Stacey Woodland, vice president of impact for United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Representatives from the nonprofit and PECO gathered with elected officials to share details about the grant program Wednesday morning at PA CareerLink Montgomery County’s facility in Norristown.
“This is truly a donation at this time of critical need for our customers here in the Philadelphia greater area,” said PECO CEO and President David Vahos.
The application window is slated to open on Monday, Aug. 4. Vahos said the cash infusion originated from shareholder contributions from PECO’s parent company, Exelon, which means there will be no impact on customer rates.
The funds were welcomed, Vahos said, noting “we’ve seen a significant increase in capacity prices,” as customers in the region endure the fifth heat wave of the summer.
The initiative will distribute a one-time $500 grant to participating PECO customers struggling with debt within the energy company’s jurisdiction of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, as well as parts of York and Lancaster counties.
Officials noted several eligibility criteria points, which include being a current PECO energy and/or natural customer; have a past-due balance of no more than $2,000; as well as having not received a grant from this program previously and no theft-of-service charges on the PECO account in the last year, according to the program’s website.
Additional parameters require participating customers to have a household income within 151 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Figures from PECO demonstrate a one-person household making between $23,632 and $46,950; a two-person household earning between $31,937 and $63,450; a three-person household making between $40,242 and $79,950; and a four-person household earning between $48,547 and $96,450.
While it will benefit those primarily in southeastern Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis underscored the impact the initiative could have amid a turbulent economic climate.
“Costs just unfortunately keep going up – whether it’s at the grocery store or at the gas pump or with your utility bills – and those costs hit lower income families and seniors the hardest,” Davis said. “No Pennsylvanian should have to choose between keeping the lights on or paying for their prescriptions or groceries.”
Davis underscored how “hard working families who make too much to qualify for assistance, but not quite enough to be financially secure” often “fall between the cracks” as they’ve been hit hard financially.
“There are too many families and seniors who are struggling and right on that edge, one accident or one misfortune away from, quite frankly, financial ruin,” Davis said, stressing how the PECO Customer Relief Fund will “throw them a much needed life preserver.”
Jennifer Butler, executive director of MontcoWorks and the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board agreed, adding she’s seen it far too often.
“Too many workers find themselves living paycheck to paycheck,” Butler said. “That means for many in our community, a layoff or an unexpected expense can derail progress toward economic stability.”
Butler underscored the importance of the union’s philanthropic ventures, which “affirm[s] that energy security is economic security.”
“Together, we’re not just helping people pay their bills, we’re helping them reclaim that stability, some dignity and the capacity to shape their own futures. There’s nothing more powerful than that,” she continued.
Applications will be accepted online on a first come first serve basis until Dec. 31. The program will be administered by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
The nonprofit organization also partnered with the following agencies to assist area residents with the application process: ACLAMO, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia, Community Action Agency of Delaware County, Inc., Campaign for Working Families, Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance, Open Hearth, Inc., United Way of Bucks County, and the YWCA Tri-County Area.
“So today’s $10 million investment is an extraordinary demonstration,” said Bill Golderer, CEO and president of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. “There’s a lot of rhetoric of what we want to do to help. This is actionable.”
“It is real, and the relief is going to reach every family and every community who needs it the most: across barriers of language, the digital divide,” he continued, “we are going to ensure that these dollars are moved efficiently and with speed, because the need is just that great.”
Visit peco.com/relief to apply and learn more information about the PECO Customer Relief Fund.
