Press Release

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Electric Choice Program today launched a fresh multi-media consumer education campaign to reinforce the message that all Pennsylvanians are eligible to shop for a new electric generation supplier and underscore that a variety of resources are available to them to learn how to shop.

The campaign, which includes television and radio advertisements, will air in all media markets across the state beginning today, and will continue with a four-page newspaper insert that will run in newspapers across the state. The advertisements include the widely recognized "Where do you think you are? Pennsylvania?" theme.

"Pennsylvania is considered by many to be a leader in educating consumers about the deregulated electric marketplace," said John M. Quain, chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

The newspaper insert, which will be published on Sunday, February 27, will include step-by-step information outlining how to participate in the Electric Choice Program and a worksheet designed to help customers compare the prices offered by prospective electric suppliers.

"Our goal with this campaign is to provide consumers with the tools and resources, such as price-to-compare information, they need to choose an electric supplier," said Jim Cunningham, president, Pennsylvania Electric Association.

In addition to the advertisements and inserts, the state’s electric distribution companies will individually reach out to their customers. March bills will include company-specific pricing information – known as "price-to-compare" – as well as the three keys consumers need to know about Electric Choice:

• All consumers can now choose their electric generation supplier (Prior to January 1, 2000, customers interested in participating in Electric Choice were phased in);
• Price-to-compare information is an important part in getting the shopping process started;
• The Program Web site (www.electrichoice.com) and toll-free number (888-PUC-FACT), staffed by trained customer service representatives, can help consumers learn how to compare suppliers.

Quain noted the accomplishments of the Electric Choice Program, pointing to an October 1999 study that revealed a high level of awareness (94 percent) of Electric Choice and understanding (63 percent) of the process of choosing an electric supplier.

To date, more than 500,000 consumers have shopped for and selected a new electric generation supplier. If all customers shop, savings could reach $1 billion.

In December 1996, Governor Tom Ridge signed the Electricity Generation Customer Choice & Competition Act, making Pennsylvania one of the first states in the nation to open its electric generation markets to competition. The law allowed Pennsylvania electric customers – for the first time ever – to select their own electric generation supplier.

For more information about the Electric Choice Program, contact 1-888-PUC-FACT (782-3228) or visit the Program’s Web site at www.electrichoice.com, which is accessible to persons who are visually impaired.