After hinting at it late in 2012, Exelon (EXC -0.05%) finally announced its decision to cut its industry-leading dividend rate. Starting in the second quarter of 2013, investors will receive $0.31 per share rather than the current $0.525 per share. While this might seem a bit steep, investors must consider management's reasoning behind the cut before jumping to rash conclusions. In this case, Motley Fool energy analyst Taylor Muckerman believes it puts Exelon in a much more sustainable position to grow competitively compared to its peers. Foolish investors should check out the video below for his take on why this could be a great long-term investment.