Message from Atlantic City Electric

A Message from Atlantic City Electric:

Extreme Cold Drives Higher Energy Use for Atlantic City Electric Customers Across South Jersey 

Mays Landing, N.J. (February 17, 2026) — Following some of the coldest winter weather the region has experienced in years, Atlantic City Electric customers across South Jersey used significantly more energy as prolonged extreme cold drove higher heating demand. 

December 2025 and January 2026 ranked among the coldest winter months of the past decade, resulting in sustained, above-average heating needs for customers, as referenced by Heating degree day (HDD) data, a key indicator of heating demand. 

Despite the extreme weather and elevated demand, Atlantic City Electric's infrastructure continued to perform reliably throughout the extended cold snap. 

“Our teams prepare throughout the year for severe weather and periods of exceptionally high demand,” said Andrew Hendry, Atlantic City Electric Region President. “Thanks to ongoing investments in our electric infrastructure and thoughtful operational planning, we were able to continue delivering safe, reliable service during this recent cold snap when customers depended on it most.”
 
December 2025 was the coldest December in the last 10 years for Atlantic City Electric’s South Jersey service area, 23 percent colder than the decade-long average and 22 percent colder than December 2024. The prolonged cold meant homes and businesses needed heat for longer periods, driving higher energy use. January 2026 remained unusually cold, also ranking as the coldest January in the past decade and coming in at 21 percent colder than the 10-year average and eight percent colder than January 2025.  

What This Means for Customer Bills  

When temperatures remain well below average for extended periods, heating systems run longer and more often, which directly influences energy use. Heating systems must work harder during prolonged cold weather, even if thermostat settings haven’t changed, and customers may begin seeing the impacts of cold weather and increased energy usage on their upcoming bills. Customers who have gas heat may still see impacts to their electric bill due to electrical components that support HVAC systems that keep warm air circulating through their homes or businesses.   

The combination of record-level cold in December and January helps explain higher winter energy use and reinforces how weather conditions directly influence customer bills.  

Year-Round Investments Support Reliable Service  

Over recent years, Atlantic City Electric has made significant progress modernizing the local grid—upgrading substations, reinforcing distribution lines, installing hundreds of smart devices that automatically reroute power, and expanding digital tools that enhance outage detection and response. These investments reduce outage frequency and duration and help ensure the system remains resilient as severe weather becomes increasingly common. Every investment the company makes is evaluated with both system performance and customer affordability in mind. 

 Tools, Tips and Assistance to Help Customers Manage Energy Costs 

Atlantic City Electric offers a range of tools and assistance programs to help customers better understand their bills and manage energy use: 
  

• Understand Your Bill: Customers can learn more about bill components, usage trends, and rate information 
• My Account: Customers can track energy use, receive customized energy-saving tips, and set alerts related to weather-driven usage changes 
• Budget Billing: Helps Smooth seasonal bill fluctuations by spreading costs evenly throughout the year 
• Energy Efficiency Programs: Home energy assessments and efficiency upgrades can help customers save energy and money 
• Customer Assistance Programs: Income-qualified customers may be eligible for bill assistance, payment arrangements, grants, or energy efficiency support, including Atlantic City Electric’s recently expanded Customer Relief Fund and LIHEAP.  

 
For more information, customers can visit atlanticcityelectric.com/WaysToSave.  

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.