Peco Energy cites cold January in high bills

Peco Energy Co. is encouraging customers who might have trouble paying high January energy bills to contact its customer-service line at 1-800-494-4000.

The average temperature for January was 29 degrees, or 3.3 degrees below the normal average, Peco said, based on National Weather Service information.

"We can help our customers with energy-saving information, payment options, and assistance programs if they will reach out and work with us," said Mary Ludford, PECO vice president of customer operations.

Electricity usage was up more than 5 percent in January over December, and up by about that much over January 2008, the company said, adding that usage was up more for residential customers (7.5 percent more than January 2008) and households with electric heat (up 26.4 percent).

Suburban gas customers used about 28 percent more than in December, and 19 percent more than the year-ago period.

Web-based options are www.peco.com/service for general information, www.peco.com/save for energy-saving information.