For Immediate Release
May 15, 2003

Michigan retailers have a new way to save on their utility bills because of an agreement between Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) and Exelon Corporation, the largest supplier of electricity in North America. Exelon will supply electricity to many MRA members at discounted rates through MRA’s Electric Choice program.

Discounts will vary depending on usage patterns and service area, but most members of Michigan Retailers Association can expect to save 10 to 25 percent on electricity.

The new partnership with Exelon expands MRA’s current Electric Choice program by adding a second supplier to its existing partner, Quest Energy. In addition, Exelon is expected to offer discounts on natural gas in the near future.

"The addition of natural gas as an option represents an expansion and evolution of MRA’s current Electric Choice program," said MRA president James P. Hallan.

In the present market, no alternative natural gas providers offer competitive rates. "However, that situation is expected to reverse sometime soon, and when it does, MRA members could see real savings on natural gas as well," said Hallan.

Exelon, based in Chicago, was formed in 2000 when Unicom and PECO Energy merged. It is the top-ranked utility on the Fortune 500 list and has a strong presence in Illinois, under the name ComEd, and in southeastern Pennsylvania, under the name Philadelphia Electric. Exelon is now entering the market in Michigan.

For more information about MRA’s Electric Choice program, contact Nicole Antenore at 800.366.3699 or nantenore@retailers.com.

The Michigan Retailers Association is the unified voice of retailing in Michigan and the nation’s largest state trade association of general merchandise retailers. MRA’s more than 5,800 retail business members operate more than 13,000 stores across the state.