Exelon CEO Supports Climate Legislation in Testimony Before Key U.S. Senate Committee

Calls for Protections for Utility Customers, Cost-Containment and Additional
Nuclear Provisions
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe, in testimony today before the U.S. Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee, called for passage of a comprehensive
climate and energy bill to address the greenhouse gas issue and put our nation
on the path to a low-carbon future.

In his testimony, Rowe called for an economy-wide bill with realistic targets
and timetables, an effective cost-containment mechanism, and a method for
awarding allowances to electricity delivery companies to prevent dramatic
consumer rate increases.

"We thank Senators Boxer and Kerry and this committee for moving forward with a
serious response to climate change," said Rowe. "We are encouraged by the
progress of this legislation, and we implore the members of this committee to
redouble their efforts to pass a bill that slows, stops, and ultimately reduces
greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the American economy."

Rowe also said that one of the most important aspects of cap-and-trade
legislation is that it encourages pursuing the least expensive options for
reducing carbon emissions first. While any method will cost money, the
alternatives to cap-and-trade will cost more.

"Without prompt action, the utility industry will be caught in a carbon
purgatory: we will lack the certainty we need to make the large-scale
investments in clean generation that are necessary to both keep the lights on
and meet the challenges associated with climate change," Rowe said. "We firmly
believe that cap-and-trade legislation can accomplish our national environmental
objectives while ensuring robust economic growth."

Rowe urged the committee to include measures to ensure that utility customers
are protected from sharp rates increases and the economy will not be saddled
with major new costs.

"To moderate price increases to consumers, Exelon supports the free allocation
of 40 percent of emissions allowances to local delivery companies, which will
sell the allowances and use the proceeds to mitigate costs for customers," said
Rowe. "To be abundantly clear, neither Exelon nor its shareholders will profit
from the allowances to local delivery companies."

Rowe also called for additional provisions to encourage development of
low-carbon nuclear energy.

"New nuclear plants will both help us meet our future energy needs and also
serve as an important source of green jobs," Rowe said. "For every 1,000
megawatts of capacity, nuclear power provides 550 operations jobs--more than
coal, wind or natural gas."

Exelon is not waiting to address the growing danger of climate change. Last
year, the company launched Exelon 2020, an environmental and business strategy
to reduce, offset or displace more than 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas
emissions per year by 2020. In April 2009, Exelon announced that it had reduced
its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 35 percent from 2001 to 2008.

"We look forward to working with the Senate to enact comprehensive climate
legislation in 2009 or early 2010," said Rowe. "Climate change truly is one of
the greatest challenges facing our nation and the world in this new century, and
nothing is more important for our nation`s economic, energy and environmental
future than dealing with it. Now is the time to get on with it."

Rowe is the electricity industry`s longest-serving chief executive, with nearly
26 years as a utility CEO. Rowe was among the first CEOs in the industry to
focus on climate change, first testifying before Congress on the potential
effects of carbon emissions in 1992. He currently serves as co-chair of the
bipartisan National Commission on Energy Policy, and previously chaired the
Edison Electric Institute and the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Rowe`s written testimony submitted to the committee is available on the Exelon
Web site at: www.exeloncorp.com/aboutus/speakersbureau.

Exelon Corporation is one of the nation`s largest electric utilities with
approximately $19 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the
industry`s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a
nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon
distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern
Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania and natural gas to approximately 485,000
customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and
trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.

Exelon Communications
Judy Rader, 312-394-7417

Copyright Business Wire 2009