EXELON CORPORATION

                                 Debt Securities
                                  Common Stock
                                 Preferred Stock
                            Stock Purchase Contracts
                              Stock Purchase Units


                         FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                         ------------------------------


         1.  Introductory.   Exelon  Corporation,   a  Pennsylvania  corporation
("Company"),  proposes  to  issue  and sell  from  time to time  certain  of its
unsecured  senior  debt  securities  ("Debt  Securities"),  shares of its common
stock, no par value per share ("Common  Stock"),  shares of its preferred stock,
no par value per share  ("Preferred  Stock") and  contracts  to purchase  Common
Stock (the "Stock Purchase  Contracts"),  which may be offered  separately or as
part of units  consisting of one or more such securities  ("Units"),  registered
under  the  registration  statement  referred  to in  Section  2(a)  (such  Debt
Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Stock Purchase Contracts and Units
are  collectively  referred to as the "Registered  Securities").  The Registered
Securities constituting Debt Securities or Units containing Debt Securities will
be issued under an indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001 (the "Indenture"), between
the Company and Chase Manhattan Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"),
in one or more series,  which series may vary as to interest rates,  maturities,
redemption  provisions,  selling  prices  and other  terms.  The Stock  Purchase
Contracts and Units  containing  the foregoing  will be issued under one or more
purchase contract  agreements (the "Purchase Contract  Agreements")  between the
Company and the Purchase  Contract  Agent  identified  in the Purchase  Contract
Agreement.  Particular series or offerings of Registered Securities will be sold
pursuant to a Terms Agreement  referred to in Section 3 for resale in accordance
with terms of offering determined at the time of sale.

         The Registered Securities involved in any such offering are hereinafter
referred  to as the  "Offered  Securities."  The  firm or firms  which  agree to
purchase   the  Offered   Securities   are   hereinafter   referred  to  as  the
"Underwriters" of such securities,  and the representative or representatives of
the Underwriters,  if any, specified in a Terms Agreement referred to in Section
3 are hereinafter referred to as the "Representatives";  provided, however, that
if the Terms Agreement does not specify any  representative of the Underwriters,
the term  "Representatives,"  as used in this Agreement  (other than in Sections
2(b),  the  second  sentence  of  Section  3, and  Section  6),  shall  mean the
Underwriters.

         2.  Representations  and Warranties of the Company.  The Company, as of
the date of each  Terms  Agreement  referred  to in Section  3,  represents  and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

            (a)  A  registration   statement  (No.   333-______),   including  a
         prospectus,  relating to the Registered  Securities has been filed with
         the Securities and Exchange  Commission  ("Commission")  and has become
         effective,    which   registration   statement   also   constitutes   a
         post-effective  amendment to  registration  statement  (No.  333-57640)
         relating  to the  Debt  Securities,  which  has  been  filed  with  the
         Commission and has become effective.  Such registration statements,  as
         amended at the time of any Terms  Agreement  referred  to in Section 3,
         are  hereinafter   referred  to   collectively  as  the   "Registration
         Statement,"  and  the  prospectuses   included  in  such   Registration
         Statement,  as supplemented as contemplated by Section 3 to reflect the
         terms of the Offered  Securities  (if they are Debt  Securities,  Stock
         Purchase  Contracts  or  Units)  and the terms of the  offering  of the
         Offered Securities,  as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and






         in accordance with Rule 424(b) ("Rule 424(b)") under the Securities Act
         of 1933  ("Act"),  including  all  material  incorporated  by reference
         therein,  are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Prospectus."
         No document has been or will be prepared or  distributed in reliance on
         Rule 434 under the Act.

            (b) On  the  effective  date  of the  Registration  Statement,  such
         Registration Statement conformed in all respects to the requirements of
         (i) the  Act,  (ii) if  applicable,  the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939
         ("Trust  Indenture  Act"),  and (iii) the rules and  regulations of the
         Commission  under  said  acts  ("Rules  and  Regulations")  and did not
         include any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to state any
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements  therein  not  misleading,  and on the  date of  each  Terms
         Agreement referred to in Section 3, the Registration  Statement and the
         Prospectus will conform in all respects to the requirements of the Act,
         the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable,  and the Rules and Regulations,
         and neither of such  documents  will include any untrue  statement of a
         material  fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
         circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  except that
         the foregoing  does not apply to statements in or omissions from any of
         such documents based upon written information  furnished to the Company
         by any Underwriter through the  Representatives,  if any,  specifically
         for use therein or, if  applicable,  to any  statements in or omissions
         from the  Statement of  Eligibility  and  Qualification  of the Trustee
         under the Indenture.

            (c)  PricewaterhouseCoopers,  LLP are independent  certified  public
         accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

            (d) The  Company's  authorized  capitalization  is as set  forth  or
         incorporated  by reference in the  Prospectus and all of the issued and
         outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of the  Company  have been duly
         authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

            (e) The Company is a validly subsisting corporation in good standing
         under  the  laws  of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.  Each  of the
         Company's  subsidiaries which constitutes a "gas utility company" or an
         "electric  utility  company," as defined in the Public Utility  Holding
         Company  Act of 1935,  as  amended  ("PUHCA"),  is a  validly  existing
         corporation  or  limited  liability  company  under  the  laws  of  its
         jurisdiction  of  incorporation   or  organization   (each  a  "Utility
         Subsidiary").   The  Company  and  each  Utility  Subsidiary  have  all
         requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to
         own  and  occupy  their  respective   properties  and  carry  on  their
         respective  businesses  as presently  conducted and as described in the
         Prospectus  and are  duly  qualified  as  foreign  organizations  to do
         business and in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature
         of the  business  conducted  or  property  owned  by  them  makes  such
         qualification  necessary  and in which the failure to so qualify  would
         have a materially adverse effect on the Company;  and the capital stock
         or membership interests of each Utility Subsidiary listed in Schedule I
         that is owned directly or indirectly by the Company, is owned free from
         liens, encumbrances and defects.

            (f)  If  the  Offered   Securities  are  Debt  Securities  or  Units
         containing Debt  Securities:  the Offered  Securities and the Indenture
         have  been duly  authorized  by the  Company  and will  conform  to the
         description thereof in the Prospectus; the Indenture has been qualified
         under the Trust  Indenture  Act;  and when the Offered  Securities  are
         delivered  and paid for pursuant to the Terms  Agreement on the Closing
         Date (as defined below), the Indenture will have been duly executed and
         delivered,  such  Offered  Securities  will have  been  duly  executed,
         authenticated,  issued and delivered and the Indenture and such Offered
         Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
         Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to





                                       2


         bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
         and similar  laws of general  applicability  relating  to or  affecting
         creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

            (g) If the Offered  Securities are Common Stock,  Preferred Stock or
         Units containing shares of Common Stock: the Offered Securities and all
         other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
         authorized; all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are,
         and, when the Offered  Securities  have been  delivered and paid for in
         accordance  with the Terms  Agreement on the Closing Date, such Offered
         Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
         and  will  conform  to  the  description   thereof   contained  in  the
         Prospectus;  and the  stockholders  of the Company  have no  preemptive
         rights with respect to its Common Stock and Preferred Stock.

            (h) If the Offered  Securities are  convertible  into or exercisable
         for Common Stock:  when the Offered  Securities  are delivered and paid
         for pursuant to the Terms  Agreement on the Closing Date,  such Offered
         Securities will be convertible  into or exercisable for Common Stock of
         the Company in accordance with the Indenture or the Purchase Agreement,
         as the case may be; the shares of Common Stock initially  issuable upon
         conversion  or  exercise  of such  Offered  Securities  have  been duly
         authorized  and reserved for issuance upon such  conversion or exercise
         and,  when issued upon such  conversion  or  exercise,  will be validly
         issued, fully paid and nonassessable;  the outstanding shares of Common
         Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued,  are fully paid and
         nonassessable  and conform to the description  thereof contained in the
         Prospectus;  and the  stockholders  of the Company  have no  preemptive
         rights with respect to the Common Stock.

            (i) If the Offered  Securities are Stock Purchase Contracts or Units
         containing  Stock Purchase  Contracts:  the Offered  Securities and the
         Purchase  Contract  Agreement have been duly  authorized by the Company
         and will conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus; and when
         the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to the Terms
         Agreement on the Closing Date,  the Purchase  Contract  Agreement  will
         have been duly executed and  delivered,  such Offered  Securities  will
         have been duly  executed,  authenticated,  issued and delivered and the
         Purchase Contract Agreement and such Offered Securities will constitute
         valid and legally  binding  obligations  of the Company  enforceable in
         accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
         fraudulent  transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar laws of
         general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
         general equity principles.

            (j) If the Offered  Securities  are Common Stock,  convertible  into
         Common Stock,  Stock Purchase  Contracts or Units containing  shares of
         Common Stock or Stock  Purchase  Contracts:  (i) except as disclosed in
         the Prospectus,  there are no contracts,  agreements or  understandings
         between  the  Company  and any  person  that would give rise to a valid
         claim  against  the  Company  or  any   Underwriter   for  a  brokerage
         commission,   finder's  fee  or  other  like  payment;   and  (ii)  the
         outstanding  shares of Common  Stock are  listed on the New York  Stock
         Exchange (the "Stock Exchange") and the Offered Securities (if they are
         Common Stock),  the Common Stock into which the Offered  Securities are
         convertible (if they are  convertible),  the Common Stock for which the
         Offered   Securities  are  exercisable  (if  they  are  Stock  Purchase
         Contracts) or the Common Stock  underlying  the Units has been approved
         for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance.

            (k) If the Offered  Securities are Debt  Securities,  they have been
         approved  for  listing  on the stock  exchange  indicated  in the Terms
         Agreement, subject to notice of issuance.






                                       3


            (l)  Except  for  (a)  the  orders  of  the  Commission  making  the
         Registration Statement effective, (b) the Order of the Commission under
         PUHCA authorizing the Company to issue and sell the Offered  Securities
         as  contemplated  by the Terms  Agreement  (including the provisions of
         this Agreement), (c) qualification under the Trust Indenture Act if the
         Offered  Securities  are  Debt  Securities  or  Units  containing  Debt
         Securities,  (d) permits and similar authorizations  required under the
         securities  or  "Blue  Sky"  laws of any  jurisdiction,  and  (e)  such
         undertakings,  if any,  required pursuant to the Undertakings set forth
         in  Part  II of  the  Registration  Statement,  no  consent,  approval,
         authorization or other order of any  governmental  authority is legally
         required for the valid issuance and sale of the Offered Securities.

            (m) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture (if the
         Offered  Securities  are  Debt  Securities  or  Units  containing  Debt
         Securities), the Purchase Contract Agreement (if the Offered Securities
         are  Stock  Purchase  Contracts  or  Units  containing  Stock  Purchase
         Contracts),  the Terms  Agreement  (including  the  provisions  of this
         Agreement) and any Delayed Delivery Contracts and the issuance and sale
         of the  Offered  Securities  and, if the  Offered  Securities  are Debt
         Securities,  Units containing Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts
         or Units containing Stock Purchase Contracts, compliance with the terms
         and provisions thereof, will not result in a breach of any of the terms
         or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Company's  Amended
         and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or those of any of the
         subsidiaries listed in Schedule I or any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of
         trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any such
         subsidiary  is now a party,  or any  effective  order  of any  court or
         administrative  agency entered in any  proceedings to which the Company
         was or is now a party or by which it is bound.

            (n) The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement)
         and,  if the  Offered  Securities  are  Debt  Securities,  any  Delayed
         Delivery  Contracts  (as  defined  below)  have been  duly  authorized,
         executed and delivered by the Company.

            (o) The Company is not and,  after giving effect to the offering and
         sale of the Offered  Securities  and the  application  of the  proceeds
         thereof as  described  in the  Prospectus,  will not be an  "investment
         company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

         3. Purchase and Offering of Offered  Securities.  The obligation of the
Underwriters  to  purchase  the  Offered  Securities  will  be  evidenced  by an
agreement or exchange of other written communications ("Terms Agreement") at the
time the Company determines to sell the Offered Securities.  The Terms Agreement
will  incorporate  by reference  the  provisions  of this  Agreement,  except as
otherwise  provided  therein,  and will  specify the firm or firms which will be
Underwriters,  the names of any Representatives,  the principal amount or number
of shares to be purchased by each Underwriter,  the purchase price to be paid by
the  Underwriters  and (if the Offered  Securities  are Debt  Securities,  Stock
Purchase  Contracts  or Units  containing  Debt  Securities  or  Stock  Purchase
Contracts)  the terms of the Offered  Securities  not already  specified (in the
Indenture,  in the case of Offered  Securities that are Debt Securities or Units
containing Debt Securities,  or in the Purchase Contract Agreement,  in the case
of Offered Securities that are Stock Purchase Contacts or Units containing Stock
Purchase  Contracts),  including,  but not  limited to,  interest  rate (if Debt
Securities or Units containing Debt Securities), maturity (if Debt Securities or
Units  containing Debt  Securities),  any redemption  provisions and any sinking
fund  requirements  and  whether any of the  Offered  Securities  may be sold to
institutional  investors  pursuant  to Delayed  Delivery  Contracts  (as defined
below).  The Terms Agreement will also specify the time and date of delivery and
payment  (such  time and date,  or such  other  time not later  than  seven full
business days thereafter as the  Underwriter  first named in the Terms Agreement
(the "Lead  Underwriter")  and the  Company  agree as the time for  payment  and
delivery,  being herein and in the Terms  Agreement  referred to as the "Closing
Date"),  the place of  delivery  and  payment  and any  details  of the terms of




                                       4


offering that should be reflected in the prospectus  supplement  relating to the
offering  of the Offered  Securities.  For  purposes  of Rule  15c6-1  under the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise
applicable  settlement date) shall be the date for payment of funds and delivery
of  securities  for all the Offered  Securities  sold  pursuant to the offering,
other than Contract Securities (as defined below) for which payment of funds and
delivery of securities shall be as hereinafter provided.  The obligations of the
Underwriters  to purchase the Offered  Securities will be several and not joint.
It is understood that the Underwriters  propose to offer the Offered  Securities
for sale as set forth in the Prospectus.

         If the  Terms  Agreement  provides  for  sales  of  Offered  Securities
pursuant to delayed delivery contracts,  the Company authorizes the Underwriters
to solicit offers to purchase  Offered  Securities  pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts  substantially  in the  form of  Annex  I  attached  hereto  ("Delayed
Delivery  Contracts")  with such changes therein as the Company may authorize or
approve.  Delayed  Delivery  Contracts are to be with  institutional  investors,
including  commercial and savings  banks,  insurance  companies,  pension funds,
investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. On the Closing
Date the  Company  will pay, as  compensation,  to the  Representatives  for the
accounts  of the  Underwriters,  the fee set forth in such  Terms  Agreement  in
respect of the principal amount or number of shares of Offered  Securities to be
sold  pursuant  to  Delayed  Delivery  Contracts  ("Contract  Securities").  The
Underwriters will not have any  responsibility in respect of the validity or the
performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts.  If the Company executes and delivers
Delayed Delivery  Contracts,  the Contract  Securities will be deducted from the
Offered Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters and the aggregate
principal  amount or number of shares of Offered  Securities  to be purchased by
each  Underwriter will be reduced pro rata in proportion to the principal amount
or number of shares of Offered  Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter's
name in such Terms  Agreement,  except to the extent  that the Lead  Underwriter
determines  that such  reduction  shall be otherwise than pro rata and so advise
the  Company.  The Company will advise the Lead  Underwriter  not later than the
business  day prior to the  Closing  Date of the  principal  amount or number of
shares of Contract Securities.

         If the Offered  Securities  are Common  Stock or Preferred  Stock,  the
certificates  for the Offered  Securities  delivered to the  Underwriters on the
Closing Date will be in definitive form, and if the Offered  Securities are Debt
Securities,  Stock Purchase Contracts or Units, the Offered Securities delivered
to the  Underwriters on the Closing Date will be in definitive  fully registered
form,  in each case in such  denominations  and  registered in such names as the
Lead Underwriter requests.

         If the Offered Securities are Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts
or Units and the Terms  Agreement  specifies  "Book-Entry  Only"  settlement  or
otherwise  states that the provisions of this paragraph shall apply, the Company
will deliver against payment of the purchase price the Offered Securities in the
form of one or more permanent global  securities in definitive form (the "Global
Securities")  deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The  Depository  Trust
Company  ("DTC") and  registered  in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC.
Interests in any  permanent  global  securities  will be held only in book-entry
form  through  DTC,  except  in  the  limited  circumstances  described  in  the
Prospectus. Payment for the Offered Securities shall be made by the Underwriters
in Federal  (same day) funds by official  check or checks or wire transfer to an
account  previously  designated by the Company at a bank  acceptable to the Lead
Underwriter,  in each  case  drawn  to the  order  of at the  place  of  payment
specified in the Terms  Agreement on the Closing Date,  against  delivery to the
Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global  Securities  representing  all of the
Offered Securities.

         4.  Certain  Agreements  of the  Company.  The Company  agrees with the
several  Underwriters that it will furnish to counsel for the Underwriters,  one
signed copy of the Registration  Statement,  including all exhibits, in the form
it became  effective and of all amendments  thereto and that, in connection with
each offering of Offered Securities:





                                       5


            (a) The  Company  will  file  the  Prospectus  with  the  Commission
         pursuant to and in accordance  with Rule  424(b)(2)  (or, if applicable
         and if consented to by the Lead Underwriter,  subparagraph (5) thereof)
         not later than the second  business day  following  the  execution  and
         delivery of the Terms Agreement.

            (b) The  Company  will advise the Lead  Underwriter  promptly of any
         proposal  to amend or  supplement  the  Registration  Statement  or the
         Prospectus   and  will  afford  the  Lead   Underwriter   a  reasonable
         opportunity  to comment on any such proposed  amendment or  supplement;
         and the Company will also advise the Lead  Underwriter  promptly of the
         filing of any such  amendment or supplement  and of the  institution by
         the  Commission  of  any  stop  order  proceedings  in  respect  of the
         Registration  Statement  or of any part  thereof  and will use its best
         efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as
         soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

            (c) If,  at any  time  when a  prospectus  relating  to the  Offered
         Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
         sales by any  Underwriter  or dealer,  any event  occurs as a result of
         which the Prospectus as then amended or  supplemented  would include an
         untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
         necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in  the  light  of  the
         circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading,  or if it is
         necessary at any time to amend the  Prospectus  to comply with the Act,
         the Company promptly will notify the Lead Underwriter of such event and
         will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense,
         an  amendment  or  supplement  which will  correct  such  statement  or
         omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the
         Lead Underwriter's  consent to, nor the Underwriters'  delivery of, any
         such  amendment or supplement  shall  constitute a waiver of any of the
         conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof.

            (d) As soon as  practicable,  but not later than 16 months after the
         date of each Terms Agreement, the Company will make generally available
         to its  securityholders  an earnings  statement covering a period of at
         least 12 months  beginning after the later of (i) the effective date of
         the Registration Statement,  (ii) the effective date of the most recent
         post-effective  amendment  to  the  Registration  Statement  to  become
         effective  prior to the date of such Terms Agreement and (iii) the date
         of the Company's  most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
         Commission  prior  to the  date of such  Terms  Agreement,  which  will
         satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

            (e) The Company  will furnish to the  Representatives  copies of the
         Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any related preliminary
         prospectus,   any  related  preliminary  prospectus   supplement,   the
         Prospectus  and all amendments and  supplements to such  documents,  in
         each  case as soon as  available  and in such  quantities  as the  Lead
         Underwriter  reasonably requests.  The Company will pay the expenses of
         printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

            (f) The Company  will arrange for the  qualification  of the Offered
         Securities for sale and (if the Offered Securities are Debt Securities,
         Stock  Purchase   Contracts  or  Units)  the   determination  of  their
         eligibility for investment under the laws of such  jurisdictions as the
         Lead Underwriter  designates and will continue such  qualifications  in
         effect so long as required  for the  distribution;  provided,  however,
         that  the  Company  shall  not be  required  to  qualify  as a  foreign
         corporation in any jurisdiction  where it is not now so qualified or to
         take any action which would subject it to general service of process in
         any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.





                                       6


            (g) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
         its obligations under the Terms Agreement  (including the provisions of
         this  Agreement),  including  (i) any  filing  fees or  other  expenses
         (including  fees and  disbursements  of  counsel)  in  connection  with
         qualification  of the Registered  Securities  for sale,  listing on the
         Stock Exchange (if the Offered Securities are Common Stock,  securities
         convertible  into or exercisable  for Common Stock or Preferred  Stock)
         and (if the Offered  Securities  are Debt  Securities,  Stock  Purchase
         Contracts  or  Units)  any   determination  of  their  eligibility  for
         investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Lead Underwriter
         may designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto,  (ii) any
         fees  charged  by  investment  rating  agencies  for the  rating of the
         Offered Securities (if they are Debt Securities),  (iii) any applicable
         filing  fee  incident  to, the review by the  National  Association  of
         Securities Dealers, Inc. of the Registered Securities,  (iv) any travel
         expenses  of the  Company's  officers  and  employees,  (v)  any  other
         expenses  of the  Company  in  connection  with  attending  or  hosting
         meetings with prospective  purchasers of Registered Securities and (vi)
         expenses  incurred in  distributing  the  Prospectus,  any  preliminary
         prospectuses,  any  preliminary  prospectus  supplements  or any  other
         amendments or supplements to the Prospectus to the Underwriters.

            (h)  If  the  Offered   Securities  are  Debt  Securities  or  Units
         containing Debt Securities,  the Company will not offer, sell, contract
         to sell,  pledge or otherwise  dispose of,  directly or indirectly,  or
         file  with  the  Commission  a  registration  statement  under  the Act
         relating to United States  dollar-denominated debt securities issued or
         guaranteed  by the  Company and having a maturity of more than one year
         from the date of issue (if the Offered  Securities are Debt  Securities
         or  Units  containing  Debt  Securities),   or  publicly  disclose  the
         intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge,  disposition or filing,
         without the prior written consent of the Lead  Underwriter for a period
         beginning at the time of execution  of the Terms  Agreement  and ending
         the number of days after the Closing Date specified under "Blackout" in
         the Terms Agreement.

            (i) If the Offered  Securities  are Common Stock,  Preferred  Stock,
         Stock  Purchase  Contracts,  convertible  into  Common  Stock  or Units
         containing Common Stock or Stock Purchase  Contracts,  the Company will
         not offer,  sell,  contract to sell,  pledge or  otherwise  dispose of,
         directly or  indirectly,  or file with the  Commission  a  registration
         statement  under the Act  relating  to,  any  additional  shares of its
         Common Stock,  Preferred  Stock,  Stock  Purchase  Contracts,  Units or
         securities  convertible  into or  exchangeable  or exercisable  for any
         shares of its Common Stock, or publicly  disclose the intention to make
         any such offer, sale, pledge,  disposition or filing, without the prior
         written consent of the Lead  Underwriter for a period  beginning at the
         time of execution of the Terms  Agreement and ending the number of days
         after  the  Closing  Date  specified  under  "Blackout"  in  the  Terms
         Agreement,  except issuances of Common Stock pursuant to the conversion
         or exchange of convertible or  exchangeable  securities or the exercise
         of  warrants or options,  in each case  outstanding  on the date of the
         Terms Agreement, grants of employee stock options pursuant to the terms
         of a plan in effect on the date of the Terms  Agreement,  issuances  of
         Common  Stock  pursuant to the exercise of such options or issuances of
         Common Stock pursuant to the Company's dividend reinvestment plan.

            (j) The Company  will use its best  efforts to effect the listing of
         (A) Offered  Securities that are shares of Common Stock,  (B) shares of
         Common Stock  issuable  upon the  conversion or exercise of the Offered
         Securities,  and (C) shares of Preferred  Stock, as the case may be, on
         the  Stock  Exchange,  and  to  cause  such  Offered  Securities  to be
         registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("1934
         Act").

            (k) In the case of the  issuance of Offered  Securities  convertible
         into or exercisable for Common Stock, the Company agrees to reserve and
         keep  available  at all times,  free of  preemptive  rights,  shares of
         Common  Stock for the  purpose of  enabling  the Company to satisfy any





                                       7


         obligations to issue shares of Common Stock upon conversion or exercise
         of the Offered Securities, as the case may be.

         5. Conditions of the Obligations of the  Underwriters.  The obligations
of the several  Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will
be subject to the accuracy of the  representations and warranties on the part of
the Company herein,  to the accuracy of the statements of Company  officers made
pursuant to the  provisions  hereof,  to the  performance  by the Company of its
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

            (a) On the date of the Terms  Agreement  and the Closing  Date,  the
         Representatives shall have requested and caused PricewaterhouseCoopers,
         LLP to furnish to the Representatives  letters,  dated respectively the
         date of the Terms Agreement and the Closing Date, in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Representatives.

            (b) The  Prospectus  shall have been filed  with the  Commission  in
         accordance  with the Rules and  Regulations  and  Section  4(a) of this
         Agreement.   No  stop  order   suspending  the   effectiveness  of  the
         Registration  Statement or of any part  thereof  shall have been issued
         and no  proceedings  for that  purpose  shall  be  pending  before,  or
         threatened by, the Commission.

            (c)  Subsequent  to the  effective  date of the Terms  Agreement and
         prior to the Closing  Date,  there shall have been no material  adverse
         change in the financial condition, business or results of operations of
         the Company and its subsidiaries,  considered as a whole, except as set
         forth in the Registration  Statement and the Prospectus,  including the
         documents incorporated by reference therein.

            (d) The  Representatives  shall have received an opinion,  dated the
         Closing Date, of Ballard  Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll,  LLP,  counsel for
         the Company, to the effect that:

               (i) The Company is a corporation  duly  incorporated  and validly
            subsisting  under the laws of the  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  and
            has  all  requisite   corporate  power  and  authority  to  own  its
            properties   and  to  conduct  its  business  as  described  in  the
            Prospectus;

               (ii) The Company's  authorized  capitalization is as set forth or
            incorporated  by reference in the  Prospectus  and all of the issued
            and  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of the Company  have been
            duly authorized and validly issued;

               (iii) If the  Offered  Securities  are Debt  Securities  or Units
            containing Debt Securities:  the Indenture has been duly authorized,
            executed and delivered by the Company and has been  qualified  under
            the Trust  Indenture  Act;  the  Offered  Securities  have been duly
            authorized  by the  Company;  the Offered  Securities  are in a form
            contemplated by the Indenture; the Offered Securities have been duly
            executed, issued and delivered by the Company; the Indenture and the
            Offered Securities  constitute valid and legally binding obligations
            of the Company,  enforceable  in  accordance  with their  respective
            terms,  subject  to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,
            reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
            relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general principles
            of equity,  including without  limitation,  concepts of materiality,
            reasonableness,  good faith and fair dealing;  and the Indenture and
            the Offered Securities conform to the descriptions thereof contained
            in the Prospectus;




                                       8


               (iv) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock,  Preferred Stock
            or Units  containing  Common Stock:  the Offered  Securities and all
            outstanding  shares of the Common Stock and  Preferred  Stock of the
            Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
            and nonassessable  and conform to the description  thereof contained
            in the  Prospectus;  and the  stockholders  of the  Company  have no
            preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities;

               (v) If the Offered Securities are convertible into or exercisable
            for Common  Stock:  the Offered  Securities  other than any Contract
            Securities  are, and any Contract  Securities,  when (if the Offered
            Securities are Debt Securities) executed, authenticated,  issued and
            delivered in the manner  provided in the Indenture and sold pursuant
            to  Delayed   Delivery   Contracts  will  be  convertible   into  or
            exercisable  for Common Stock of the Company in accordance  with the
            Indenture or the Purchase  Contract  Agreement,  as the case may be;
            the shares of Common Stock  initially  issuable  upon  conversion or
            exercise of the Offered  Securities  have been duly  authorized  and
            reserved for issuance  upon such  conversion  or exercise  and, when
            issued upon such  conversion  or exercise,  will be validly  issued,
            fully paid and nonassessable; the outstanding shares of Common Stock
            have been duly  authorized  and validly  issued,  are fully paid and
            nonassessable  and conform to the description  thereof  contained in
            the  Prospectus;  and  the  stockholders  of  the  Company  have  no
            preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock;

               (vi) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock, Preferred Stock,
            convertible  into Common Stock,  Stock  Purchase  Contracts or Units
            containing  Common Stock or Stock Purchase  Contracts:  there are no
            contracts,  agreements  or  understandings  known  to  such  counsel
            between the Company and any person granting such person the right to
            require the Company to file a registration  statement  under the Act
            with respect to any  securities  of the Company owned or to be owned
            by such person or to require the Company to include such  securities
            in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration  Statement
            or  in  any  securities  being  registered  pursuant  to  any  other
            registration statement filed by the Company under the Act;

               (vii) If the Offered  Securities are Stock Purchase  Contracts or
            Units containing Stock Purchase  Contracts:  the Offered  Securities
            and the Purchase Contract Agreement have been duly authorized by the
            Company  and  will  conform  to  the  description   thereof  in  the
            Prospectus;  and when the Offered  Securities are delivered and paid
            for  pursuant  to the  Terms  Agreement  on the  Closing  Date,  the
            Purchase  Contract  Agreement  will  have  been  duly  executed  and
            delivered,  such Offered  Securities  will have been duly  executed,
            authenticated,  issued  and  delivered  and  the  Purchase  Contract
            Agreement  and such Offered  Securities  will  constitute  valid and
            legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance
            with their  terms,  subject to  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent
            transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar  laws of general
            applicability  relating  to or  affecting  creditors'  rights and to
            general equity principles;

               (viii)  The  Company  is not  and,  after  giving  effect  to the
            offering and sale of the Offered  Securities and the  application of
            the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus,  will not be an
            "investment  company"  as defined in the  Investment  Company Act of
            1940;

               (ix) No consent,  approval,  authorization or order of, or filing
            with, any state commission or regulatory authority or of any federal
            commission or  regulatory  authority,  or of any other  governmental





                                       9


            agency or body or any court is required for the  consummation of the
            transactions  contemplated  by the Terms  Agreement  (including  the
            provisions of this  Agreement)  in  connection  with the issuance or
            sale of the Offered  Securities  by the Company,  except (A) such as
            have been  obtained  and made  under  the Act,  (B) the Order of the
            Commission under PUHCA authorizing the Company to issue and sell the
            Offered   Securities,   (C)  if  the  Offered  Securities  are  Debt
            Securities or Units containing Debt Securities,  the Trust Indenture
            Act, (D) such as may be required  under state  securities  laws, and
            (E) to the extent, if any, required pursuant to the Undertakings set
            forth in Part II of the Registration Statement;

               (x) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the
            Indenture (if the Offered  Securities  are Debt  Securities or Units
            containing  Debt  Securities),  the Terms  Agreement  (including the
            provisions of this  Agreement)  and, if the Offered  Securities  are
            Debt Securities, any Delayed Delivery Contracts and the issuance and
            sale of the Offered  Securities  and, if the Offered  Securities are
            Debt Securities or Units containing Debt Securities, compliance with
            the terms and provisions thereof will not conflict with or result in
            a breach or  violation  of any of the terms  and  provisions  of, or
            constitute a default under, any statute,  rule,  regulation or order
            of any governmental  agency or body or any court having jurisdiction
            over the Company or any of its properties, or, to our knowledge, any
            agreement or  instrument to which the Company is a party or by which
            the  Company  is  bound  or to which  any of the  properties  of the
            Company is subject,  or the Articles of  Incorporation or By-Laws of
            the  Company,  and the  Company  has full  power  and  authority  to
            authorize,  issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by
            the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement);

               (xi) The  Registration  Statement has become  effective under the
            Act,  the  Prospectus  was filed with the  Commission  in the manner
            specified  in and within the time  period  required  by Rule  424(b)
            specified in such opinion on the date specified therein, and, to the
            knowledge   of  such   counsel,   no  stop  order   suspending   the
            effectiveness of the Registration  Statement or any part thereof has
            been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted
            or are pending or contemplated  under the Act, and the  Registration
            Statement,  as of its effective date, the Registration Statement and
            the  Prospectus,  as of the  date of the  Terms  Agreement,  and any
            amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date, complied as to form
            in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust
            Indenture  Act and the Rules and  Regulations;  such counsel have no
            reason  to  believe  that  such  Registration  Statement,  as of its
            effective date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
            omitted to state any material fact required to be stated  therein or
            necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that such
            Registration  Statement, as of the date of the Terms Agreement or as
            of the Closing Date, or any amendment thereto,  as of its date or as
            of the Closing Date, or the Prospectus,  as of the date of the Terms
            Agreement or as of such Closing Date, or any amendment or supplement
            thereto,  as of its date or as of the Closing  Date,  contained  any
            untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
            fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
            of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
            such  counsel  do  not  know  of any  contracts  or  documents  of a
            character required to be described in the Registration  Statement or
            Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration  Statement
            which are not described and filed as required;  it being  understood
            that such  counsel  need  express  no  opinion  as to the  financial
            statements or other  financial  data  contained in the  Registration
            Statement or the Prospectus;




                                       10


               (xii) The  Terms  Agreement  (including  the  provisions  of this
            Agreement) and, if the Offered  Securities are Debt Securities,  any
            Delayed Delivery  Contracts have been duly authorized,  executed and
            delivered by the Company; and

               (xiii) To the  knowledge of such  counsel,  there are no material
            pending legal  proceedings to which the Company or any subsidiary is
            a party  and which are  required  to be set forth in the  Prospectus
            other than those referred to in the Prospectus.

            (e) The  Representatives  shall have received from Winston & Strawn,
         counsel  for the  Underwriters,  such  opinion or  opinions,  dated the
         Closing Date,  with respect to the  incorporation  of the Company,  the
         validity of the Offered  Securities,  the Registration  Statement,  the
         Prospectus  and  other  related  matters  as  the  Representatives  may
         require,  and the Company  shall have  furnished  to such  counsel such
         documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon
         such matters.  In rendering such opinion,  Winston & Strawn may rely as
         to the  incorporation  of the Company and all other matters governed by
         Pennsylvania law upon the opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll,
         LLP referred to above.

            (f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the
         Closing Date,  of the  President or any Vice  President and a principal
         financial or accounting  officer of the Company in which such officers,
         to the best of their knowledge after  reasonable  investigation,  shall
         state that (i) the  representations  and  warranties  of the Company in
         this Agreement are true and correct, (ii) the Company has complied with
         all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed
         or satisfied  hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date,  (iii) no stop
         order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement or of
         any part  thereof has been issued and no  proceedings  for that purpose
         have been  instituted or are  contemplated  by the  Commission and (iv)
         subsequent to the date of the most recent  financial  statements in the
         Prospectus,  there has been no material adverse change in the financial
         condition,  business  or results of  operations  of the Company and its
         subsidiaries,  considered  as a  whole,  except  as  set  forth  in the
         Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus,  including  the documents
         incorporated  by reference  therein,  as of the effective  date of this
         Agreement.

            (g) At the Closing, there shall be in full force and effect an Order
         issued by the Commission  under PUHCA  permitting the issuance and sale
         of  the  Offered  Securities  and  the  transactions  relating  thereto
         substantially  in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in
         the Terms  Agreement and  containing no provision  unacceptable  to the
         Representative.

The Company will furnish the Representatives  with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates,  letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably
request.  The Lead Underwriter may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the
Underwriters   compliance   with  any  conditions  to  the  obligations  of  the
Underwriters under this Agreement and the Terms Agreement.

         6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each  Underwriter,  its partners,  directors and officers and each
person,  if any, who controls such Underwriter  within the meaning of Section 15
of the Act,  against  any  losses,  claims,  damages  or  liabilities,  joint or
several,  to  which  such  Underwriter  may  become  subject,  under  the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect  thereof)  arise out of or are based upon:  (i) any untrue  statement or
alleged  untrue  statement  of any  material  fact,  or an  omission  or alleged
omission to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements  therein not misleading,  contained in the Registration  Statement or
the Prospectus at the time that the Registration Statement became effective;  or
(ii) after the time that the Registration Statement became effective, any untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement of any material  fact, or an omission or
alleged  omission to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made,  not  misleading,   contained  in  any  post-effective  amendment  to  the
Registration  Statement or the Prospectus as amended or  supplemented  after the
time that the Registration Statement became effective or any related preliminary
prospectus or preliminary prospectus supplement. The Company will reimburse each
Underwriter  for  any  legal  or  other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by such
Underwriter in connection with  investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage,  liability or action as such expenses are incurred;  provided,  however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss,  claim,  damage or liability  arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement in or omission or alleged  omission from





                                       11


any  of  such  documents  in  reliance  upon  and  in  conformity  with  written
information   furnished   to  the  Company  by  any   Underwriter   through  the
Representatives,  if any,  specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information  furnished by any Underwriter  consists of
the information  described in such Terms  Agreement,  or (ii) the failure of any
Underwriter  to  send  to  any  purchaser  to  whom  it had  sent a  preliminary
prospectus an amended prospectus together with such summary of material changes,
if any, made therein since the date of such preliminary prospectus as shall have
been  furnished  by the  Company  for  such  purpose,  or  (iii)  any use of the
Prospectus  by any  Underwriter  after the  expiration  of that period,  if any,
during which the Underwriter is required by law to deliver a prospectus,  unless
the Company  shall have been advised in writing of such intended use, or (iv) if
applicable,  any  statements  or alleged  statements  in or omissions or alleged
omissions from the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 of the
Trustee under the Indenture.  The term "preliminary  prospectus" as used in this
paragraph includes the prospectus first complying with Section 10(a) of the Act.

            (b) Each  Underwriter  will severally and not jointly  indemnify and
         hold harmless the Company,  its directors and officers and each person,
         if any, who  controls  the Company  within the meaning of Section 15 of
         the Act,  against any losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities to which
         the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise,  insofar as
         such  losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions in respect
         thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
         untrue  statement of any material  fact  contained in the  Registration
         Statement,  the Prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
         any  related   preliminary   prospectus   or   preliminary   prospectus
         supplement,  or arise  out of or are  based  upon the  omission  or the
         alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,  in
         each case to the  extent,  but only to the  extent,  that  such  untrue
         statement or alleged untrue  statement or omission or alleged  omission
         was made in reliance  upon and in conformity  with written  information
         furnished   to  the   Company   by   such   Underwriter   through   the
         Representatives,  if  any,  specifically  for  use  therein,  and  will
         reimburse  any  legal  or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by the
         Company in connection  with  investigating  or defending any such loss,
         claim,  damage,  liability or action as such expenses are incurred,  it
         being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by
         any Underwriter  consists of the  information  described as such in the
         Terms Agreement.

            (c)  Promptly  after  receipt  by an  indemnified  party  under this
         Section of notice of the  commencement of any action,  such indemnified
         party  will,  if a claim in respect  thereof is to be made  against the
         indemnifying  party  under  subsection  (a) or (b)  above,  notify  the
         indemnifying  party of the  commencement  thereof;  but the  failure to
         notify the  indemnifying  party shall not relieve it from any liability
         that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent
         that it has been  materially  prejudiced  (through  the  forfeiture  of
         substantive  rights or defenses) by such failure;  and provided further
         that the failure to notify the indemnifying  party shall not relieve it
         from any liability that it may have to an indemnified  party  otherwise
         than  under  subsection  (a) or (b) above.  In case any such  action is
         brought against any indemnified  party and it notifies the indemnifying
         party of the  commencement  thereof,  the  indemnifying  party  will be
         entitled to  participate  therein  and, to the extent that it may wish,
         jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
         the defense  thereof,  with counsel  satisfactory  to such  indemnified
         party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party,





                                       12


         be  counsel  to the  indemnifying  party),  and after  notice  from the
         indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its  election  so to
         assume the defense thereof,  the indemnifying  party will not be liable
         to such  indemnified  party  under this  Section for any legal or other
         expenses  subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection
         with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of  investigation.
         No indemnifying  party shall,  without the prior written consent of the
         indemnified  party,  effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
         action in respect of which any indemnified  party is or could have been
         a  party  and  indemnity  could  have  been  sought  hereunder  by such
         indemnified  party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional
         release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that
         are the  subject  matter of such  action  and (ii)  does not  include a
         statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to
         act by or behalf of an indemnified party.

            (d) If the  indemnification  provided for in this Section is held to
         be  unenforceable  by the indemnified  parties  although  applicable in
         accordance with its terms (including the requirements of Section 6(c)),
         then each indemnifying  party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
         party,  shall  contribute  to  the  amount  paid  or  payable  by  such
         indemnified  party  as a  result  of the  losses,  claims,  damages  or
         liabilities  referred  to in  subsection  (a) or (b)  above (i) in such
         proportion as is equitable and appropriate to reflect both the relative
         benefits  received by the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters
         on the  other  from the  offering  of the  Offered  Securities  and the
         relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters  on
         the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
         in such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  as well as any other
         relevant  equitable  considerations.  The relative benefits received by
         the Company on the one hand and the  Underwriters on the other shall be
         deemed to be in the same  proportion as the total net proceeds from the
         offering (before  deducting  expenses)  received by the Company bear to
         the  total  underwriting  discounts  and  commissions  received  by the
         Underwriters.  The relative  fault shall be determined by reference to,
         among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
         material  fact or the omission or alleged  omission to state a material
         fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters
         and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,  access to information and
         opportunity  to correct or prevent  such untrue  statement or omission.
         The  amount  paid by an  indemnified  party as a result of the  losses,
         claims,  damages or  liabilities  referred to in the first  sentence of
         this  subsection  (d)  shall be deemed  to  include  any legal or other
         expenses  reasonably  incurred by such indemnified  party in connection
         with  investigating  or  defending  any  action  or claim  which is the
         subject of this subsection (d).  Notwithstanding the provisions of this
         subsection  (d), no  Underwriter  shall be required to  contribute  any
         amount in excess  of the  amount by which the total  price at which the
         Offered  Securities  underwritten  by it and  distributed to the public
         were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
         Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
         or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person
         guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the meaning of Section
         11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
         was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters'
         obligations  in  this  subsection  (d) to  contribute  are  several  in
         proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

            (e) The  obligations  of the Company  under this Section shall be in
         addition to any  liability  which the Company  may  otherwise  have and
         shall extend,  upon the same terms and conditions,  to each person,  if
         any, who controls  any  Underwriter  within the meaning of the Act; and
         the  obligations  of the  Underwriters  under this Section  shall be in
         addition  to  any  liability  which  the  respective  Underwriters  may
         otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to
         each  director of the  Company,  to each officer of the Company who has





                                       13


         signed the  Registration  Statement  and to each  person,  if any,  who
         controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

         7. Default of Underwriters.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters default
in their  obligations to purchase  Offered  Securities under the Terms Agreement
and the aggregate  principal amount (if Debt Securities) or number of shares (if
Common  Stock or  Preferred  Stock),  number  of units  (if  Units) or number of
contracts  (if  Stock  Purchase  Contracts)  of  Offered  Securities  that  such
defaulting  Underwriter or  Underwriters  agreed but failed to purchase does not
exceed  10% of the total  principal  amount  (if Debt  Securities)  or number of
shares  (if  Common  Stock or  Preferred  Stock),  number of units (if Units) or
number of contracts (if Stock  Purchase  Contracts) of Offered  Securities,  the
Lead  Underwriter  may make  arrangements  satisfactory  to the  Company for the
purchase of such  Offered  Securities  by other  persons,  including  any of the
Underwriters,  but if no such  arrangements  are made by the Closing  Date,  the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their
respective  commitments  under the Terms Agreement  (including the provisions of
this  Agreement),  to  purchase  the  Offered  Securities  that such  defaulting
Underwriters  agreed but failed to purchase.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters
so default and the aggregate  principal amount (if Debt Securities) or number of
shares  (if  Common  Stock or  Preferred  Stock),  number of units (if Units) or
number of contracts (if Stock  Purchase  Contracts) of Offered  Securities  with
respect  to which  such  default  or  defaults  occur  exceeds  10% of the total
principal  amount (if Debt  Securities)  or number of shares (if Common Stock or
Preferred  Stock),  number of units (if Units) or number of contracts  (if Stock
Purchase  Contracts) of Offered Securities and arrangements  satisfactory to the
Lead Underwriter and the Company for the purchase of such Offered  Securities by
other  persons  are not made  within  36 hours  after  such  default,  the Terms
Agreement will  terminate  without  liability on the part of any  non-defaulting
Underwriter  or the  Company,  except as  provided in Section 8. As used in this
Agreement,  the  term  "Underwriter"  includes  any  person  substituted  for an
Underwriter  under  this  Section.  Nothing  herein  will  relieve a  defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.  If the Offered  Securities are Debt
Securities  the  respective  commitments  of the  several  Underwriters  for the
purposes of this Section shall be determined  without regard to reduction in the
respective  Underwriters'  obligations to purchase the principal  amounts of the
Offered  Securities set forth  opposite their names in the Terms  Agreement as a
result of Delayed Delivery Contracts entered into by the Company.

         8. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations.  The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company or its  officers  and of the several  Underwriters  set forth in or made
pursuant to the Terms  Agreement  (including the  provisions of this  Agreement)
will  remain in full  force and  effect,  regardless  of any  investigation,  or
statement as to the results  thereof,  made by or on behalf of any  Underwriter,
the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or
any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered
Securities. If the Terms Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7 or if for
any reason the purchase of the Offered  Securities  by the  Underwriters  is not
consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or
reimbursed  by it pursuant to Section 4 and the  respective  obligations  of the
Company and the  Underwriters  pursuant to Section 6 shall remain in effect.  If
the purchase of the Offered  Securities by the  Underwriters  is not consummated
for any  reason  other  than  solely  because  of the  termination  of the Terms
Agreement pursuant to Section 7, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for
all  out-of-pocket  expenses  (including  fees  and  disbursements  of  counsel)
reasonably  incurred  by them in  connection  with the  offering  of the Offered
Securities.

         9. Notices.  All  communications  hereunder  will be in writing and, if
sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed
to them at their address  furnished to the Company in writing for the purpose of
communications  hereunder or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,  delivered
or telegraphed and confirmed to it at ______________, Attention: _____________.





                                       14


         10. Successors.  The Terms Agreement  (including the provisions of this
Agreement) will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and such
Underwriters  as are  identified  in the Terms  Agreement  and their  respective
successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in
Section 6, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

         11.  Representation of Underwriters.  Any Representatives  will act for
the several Underwriters in connection with the financing described in the Terms
Agreement,  and any action under such Terms Agreement  (including the provisions
of  this  Agreement)  taken  by  the  Representatives  jointly  or by  the  Lead
Underwriter will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

         12. Counterparts.  The Terms Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  each of which  shall be  deemed to be an  original,  but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

         13.  Applicable  Law. This Agreement and the Terms  Agreement  shall be
governed by, and  construed  in  accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

         The Company hereby  submits to the  non-exclusive  jurisdiction  of the
Federal and state  courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in
any  suit or  proceeding  arising  out of or  relating  to the  Terms  Agreement
(including the provisions of this  Agreement) or the  transactions  contemplated
thereby.








                                       15


                                   SCHEDULE I

                                  SUBSIDIARIES



Commonwealth Edison Company
PECO Energy Company
Exelon Generation Company, LLC















                                       16



                                                                         ANNEX I


            (Three copies of this Delayed Delivery Contract should be
             signed and returned to the address shown below so as to
                        arrive not later than 9:00 A.M.,
      New York time, on ........................ ............, .....(a))



                            DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT
                            -------------------------

                                        [Insert date of initial public offering]



Exelon Corporation
   c/o [Insert Name of Representative]


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned  hereby agrees to purchase from Exelon  Corporation,  a
Pennsylvania  corporation  ("Company"),  and the  Company  agrees to sell to the
undersigned,  [If one  delayed  closing,  insert--as  of the  date  hereof,  for
delivery on ________________________, ("Delivery Date"),]

                            [$]..............[shares]

         --principal  amount--of  the  Company's  [Insert  title of  securities]
("Securities"), offered by the Company's Prospectus dated ____________, ____ and
a  Prospectus  Supplement  dated  _______________,  ________  relating  thereto,
receipt  of  copies  of which is hereby  acknowledged,  at-- % of the  principal
amount  thereof  plus  accrued  interest,  if  any,--$  per share  plus  accrued
dividends,  if any,--and on the further terms and  conditions  set forth in this
Delayed Delivery Contract ("Contract").

         [If two or more delayed closings, insert the following:

         The  undersigned  will purchase from the Company as of the date hereof,
for delivery on the dates set forth below, Securities in the--principal--amounts
set forth below:

                                                         Principal Amount
                                                         ----------------
                                                              Number
             Delivery Date                                   of Shares
             -------------                                   ---------

.........................................                    ..........

.........................................                    ..........

Each of such delivery dates is hereinafter referred to as a Delivery Date.]



- --------
             (a) Insert date which is third full  business  day prior to Closing
Date under the Terms Agreement.




         Payment for the Securities  that the undersigned has agreed to purchase
for  delivery  on--the--each--Delivery  Date shall be made to the Company or its
order in Federal  (same day) funds by certified  or official  bank check or wire
transfer to an account designated by the Company, at the office of _____________
at _______ A.M. on--the--such--Delivery Date upon delivery to the undersigned of
the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned--for delivery on such Delivery
Date--in definitive [If debt issue,  insert--fully  registered] form and in such
denominations  and registered in such names as the  undersigned may designate by
written or telegraphic communication addressed to the Company not less than five
full business days prior to--the--such--Delivery Date.

         It is expressly  agreed that the  provisions  for delayed  delivery and
payment  are for the sole  convenience  of the  undersigned;  that the  purchase
hereunder  of  Securities  is to be regarded in all respects as a purchase as of
the date of this  Contract;  that the obligation of the Company to make delivery
of and  accept  payment  for,  and the  obligation  of the  undersigned  to take
delivery of and make payment for, Securities  on--the--each--Delivery Date shall
be subject only to the conditions  that (1)  investment in the Securities  shall
not   at--the--such--Delivery   Date  be  prohibited   under  the  laws  of  any
jurisdiction  in the United States to which the  undersigned  is subject and (2)
the  Company  shall  have  sold  to  the   Underwriters   the   total--principal
amount--number of shares--of the Securities less the--principal  amount---number
of shares--thereof covered by this and other similar Contracts.  The undersigned
represents  that its investment in the Securities is not, as of the date hereof,
prohibited  under  the laws of any  jurisdiction  to which  the  undersigned  is
subject and which governs such investment.

         Promptly after  completion of the sale to the  Underwriters the Company
will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to
such effect,  accompanied by--a  copy--copies--of  the opinion[s] of counsel for
the Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

         This  Contract  will inure to the  benefit  of and be binding  upon the
parties hereto and their  respective  successors,  but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

         It is  understood  that the  acceptance  of any such Contract is in the
Company's sole discretion and, without limiting the foregoing,  need not be on a
first-come,  first-served  basis. If this Contract is acceptable to the Company,
it is requested  that the Company sign the form of acceptance  below and mail or
deliver one of the  counterparts  hereof to the  undersigned  at its address set
forth  below.  This will become a binding  contract  between the Company and the
undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.





                                    Yours very truly,



                                    ...........................................
                                                     (Name of Purchaser)



                                    By.........................................



                                    ...........................................
                                    (Title of Signatory)



                                    ...........................................



                                    ...........................................
                                                   (Address of Purchaser)


Accepted, as of the above date.

EXELON CORPORATION



By........................................................
[Insert Title]







                               EXELON CORPORATION
                                   ("Company")


                             FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT
                             -----------------------



To:      The Representative[s] of the Underwriters identified herein


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The  undersigned  agrees to sell to the several  Underwriters  named in
Schedule A hereto for their respective  accounts,  and the Underwriters agree to
purchase from the Company,  severally and not jointly, in the respective amounts
specified  in  Schedule  A, on and  subject to the terms and  conditions  of the
Underwriting  Agreement  filed  as an  exhibit  to  the  Company's  registration
statement  on  Form  S-3  (No.  333-_______)  ("Underwriting  Agreement"),   the
following securities ("Offered Securities") on the following terms:

                  Title:                 .

                  [Principal Amount] [Number of Shares] [Number of Contracts]
[Number of Units]:

                  Over-allotment:  In  addition,  upon  written  notice from the
Representative[s]  given to the Company  from time to time not more than 30 days
subsequent to the date hereof, the Underwriters may purchase up to [$ additional
principal  amount] [  additional  shares] [  additional  contracts] [ additional
units] of the Offered  Securities  (the "Optional  Securities")  at the purchase
price. The Company agrees to sell to the  Underwriters the Optional  Securities,
and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional
Securities.  Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each
Underwriter in the same proportion as the Principal Amount of Offered Securities
set forth  opposite  such  Underwriter's  name on Schedule A hereto  (subject to
adjustment by the Representative[s] to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased
by the  Underwriters  only for the purpose of covering  over-allotments  made in
connection with the sale of the Offered Securities. No Optional Securities shall
be sold or delivered  unless the Offered  Securities  previously  have been,  or
simultaneously  are,  sold and  delivered.  The right to purchase  the  Optional
Securities or any portion  thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the
extent not previously  exercised may be  surrendered  and terminated at any time
upon notice by the Representative[s] to the Company.

                  [Interest:  [ % per annum, from _______________,  ___, payable
semiannually on _____________ and _________________,  commencing ______________,
___, to holders of record on the preceding  _______________ or ____________,  as
the case may be.] [Zero coupon.]]

                  [Maturity:               ,     .]

                  [Optional Redemption:  ]

                  [Sinking Fund:  ]

                  Listing:  [None.] [the New York Stock Exchange.]






                  Delayed Delivery Contracts: [None.] [Delivery Date[s] shall be
________________________,  ____________.  Underwriters' fee  is[____________% of
the     principal     amount]      [$________________________     per     share]
[$________________________   per  contract]  [$____________  per  unit]  of  the
Contract Securities.]

                  Purchase  Price:  [____________  % of principal  amount,  plus
accrued interest[, if any,] from ____________ ,____________.] [$____________ per
share.] [$____________ per contract.] [$____________ per unit.]

                  Expected  Reoffering  Price:   [____________  %  of  principal
amount, ] [$____________ per  share][$____________  per contract] [$____________
per unit] subject to change by the [Representative[s] [Underwriters].

                  Closing: ____________ A.M. on ____________ , ____________ , at
____________ , in Federal (same day) funds.

                  [Underwriter[s']['s]  Compensation:  $ ____________ payable to
the  [Representative[s]  for the proportionate amounts of the] Underwriter[s] on
the Closing Date.

                  Settlement   and  Trading:   [Physical   certificated   form.]
[Book-Entry Only via DTC.]

                  Blackout: Until ____________ days after the Closing Date.

                  Names and Addresses of the Representatives:

         The  respective  [principal  amounts]  [numbers of shares]  [numbers of
contracts]  [number of units] of the Offered  Securities to be purchased by each
of the Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule A hereto.

         The provisions of the Underwriting Agreement are incorporated herein by
reference.

         The  Offered  Securities  will  be  made  available  for  checking  and
packaging  ____________  at the office of at least 24 hours prior to the Closing
Date.

         For  purposes  of  Section 6 of the  Underwriting  Agreement,  the only
information  furnished  to  the  Company  by  any  Underwriter  for  use  in the
Prospectus  consists  of  [(i)]  the  following  information  in the  Prospectus
furnished on behalf of each Underwriter:  the concession and reallowance figures
appearing in the ____________  paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in the
prospectus supplement [If paragraph regarding passive market making is included,
insert--and the information  contained in the  ____________  paragraph under the
caption "Underwriting" in the prospectus  supplement] [If applicable,  insert--;
and (ii) the following  information  in the prospectus  supplement  furnished on
behalf of [insert name of Underwriter]: [insert description of information, such
as material  relationship  disclosure  under the caption  "Underwriting"  in the
prospectus supplement].



                                       2


         If the  foregoing  is in  accordance  with  your  understanding  of our
agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.


                                  Very truly yours,

                                  EXELON CORPORATION



                                  By:_______________________________________
                                      Name:
                                      Title:


The      foregoing  Terms  Agreement is hereby  confirmed and accepted as of the
         date first above written.

[LEAD MANAGER]
_____________________
_____________________

Acting  on  behalf  of  themselves  and as the  Representatives  of the  several
Underwriters.

By: [LEAD MANAGER]



By:_______________________________________________________
     Name:
     Title:





                                       3


                                   SCHEDULE A


                                                            [Principal Amount]
                                                            [Number of Shares]
                                                            [Number of Units]
        Underwriter                                       [Number of Contracts]
        -----------                                       ---------------------
                                                            $
















                                                            -------------
                  Total...........................         [$]
                                                            =============