Last month, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a settlement resolving our distribution rate review. Here’s what that means for you and what we’re doing to invest in the system, improve reliability and enhance customer support.
Strengthening reliability
We’re making targeted investments to deliver the reliable service you depend on – especially during severe weather.
- Building a stronger distribution system to better withstand extreme weather: Replacing aging infrastructure, adding stronger poles, pole-top equipment and wires and installing additional animal, avian and lightning guards.
- Reducing tree-related outages: Enhancing tree trimming and removal, including addressing diseased and dying trees both on and off our rights-of-way.
- Expanding next-generation smart grid technologies: Expanding advanced automation to accelerate restoration and reduce outages, and data analytics to inform smarter business decisions that deliver the greatest value.
Supporting our customers
We are continuing to expand programs designed to help.
- Expanding low-income assistance and enhancing screening for eligibility.
- Removing reconnection fees for income-eligible customers.
- Continuing to offer flexible payment arrangements, energy-saving tools and programs to help you manage your bill.
Protecting customers as demand grows
As demand increases across our region, we’re taking steps to ensure residential customers are protected. Large energy users, like data centers, will be required to make long-term financial commitments so system costs are not shifted to customers like you.
That includes new funding to support low-income assistance programs, helping reduce costs for residential customers over time.
As part of the decision, we have established a new large-load customer rate class designed to support system growth while protecting existing customers. The new rate class includes binding long-term financial and usage commitments, with a minimum 10-year requirement for large users such as data centers, helping ensure infrastructure costs are paid by the large load customers and not inappropriately shifted to other customers.
Beginning in 2027, we’ll be assigning $11 million annually in low-income program assistance to these large-load customers through a non-bypassable charge — reducing costs for residential customers.
Implementation and impact
New rates will take effect July 1, 2026. For residential customers using 1,000 kWh, the expected total bill change will be approximately $6.48 per month. For commercial customers using 1,000 kWh and 3 kW, the expected total bill change will be approximately $4.08 per month.
As part of the approved decision, we will not increase distribution base rates for at least two years following implementation. This is our first base rate increase since 2016 and demonstrates our commitment to managing costs and providing the reliable electric service you depend on.
We understand any increase in your bill can be a challenge. We’re committed to managing costs while continuing to deliver safe, reliable service.
For more information on the filings and approved settlement, visit pplelectric.com/RateInfo.
With long term contracts for large load customers, will the amount increase appropriately with the cost of energy or they locked into that ten year contract which may end up being less than whatt a residential customer would pay?
I still don’t see where the low income end user is benefiting. All I see is justification as to why there is an increase in cost, and no decrease. How do the commercial setting have a lower cost increase than the homeowner. All these politics are bs.
Mackenson Laura
After a large limb partially broke off a maple tree and partially covered the street in front of our house. The break in the large branch was near wires. We called ppl but received no response. A neighbor saw a ppl vehicle near the tree. We were not informed that you had examined the situation. While we waited for a response, which never came, we were inconvenienced, having to find another place to park our car. We finally learned that the City of Bethlehem removes branches that are in the street. They came out immediately and cut off and removed the branch. When there is a problem with a fallen tree or branch near wires, it would be helpful fro ppl to advise people on how to solve a problem.
the only bullet point missing is increasing security measures so that AI systems cannot be manipulated in such a fashion to create issues to fix that don’t exist, or to be used to swat distribution loads and blackouts for bitcoin ransom.
about the tree trimming. there are two trees laying on the power lines. One is heavy and if we have a storm, it could come down on a car passing by. this has been this way for over 2 years. It is on route 209 going west from tower city to Lykens. It is about a half mile toward lykens from what was carl shomper’s garage on the left and trees are on the right side
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Maintaining safe and reliable electric service is important to us. As part of our vegetation management program, PPL proactively trims trees and vegetation within 10 feet of our primary distribution lines, which are the lines that run from pole to pole.
Service lines that extend from the pole to an individual home or business are typically the responsibility of the property owner to maintain. If you have concerns about a particular area, please contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-342-5775, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We would be happy to review the situation and provide guidance.
Please cut down trees & branches that are leaning on wires. Some wires are actually touching the ground. Over the last 10 yrs or so I have noticed the poor clearance of wires & poles. But we have had more power spikes & outages. Start at the basics before adding all the new technology. Any building needs a firm foundation before adding new floors. You need to take of basics before adding new equipment which won’t work if the basic care does not exist. Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. PPL regularly performs proactive tree trimming around our primary distribution lines, which are the power lines that run from pole to pole. We maintain a clearance of approximately 10 feet around these lines as part of our vegetation management program.
Please note that vegetation management around service lines that run from the pole to a home or business is generally the responsibility of the property owner. If you believe there is a location that requires our attention, please contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-342-5775 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and we’ll be glad to assist.
I am frustrated with PP&L’s greed for more money, ruining landscapes with ugly swaths of poles in people’s yards and across mountainsides, and your preparation to make our lives a living hell with wealthy “developers” of data centers. You are not fooling us with your promises of better things.
My base rate on my August 2024 billing was .100040. There was a rate increase in either Nov or Dec 2025 to .13???? and now in July there will be another one. You say “This is our first base rate increase since 2016”. And you won’t raise rates again over the next two years? I call BS. Stop with the data centers.
Hello Lynne. PPL’s supply rate is what changes every June 1st and December 1st. The rate associated with that is determined by the bid process we undergo with the electric suppliers, where we work to get the lowest rate possible that gets passed onto our customers. We do not generate the service; thus, we do not make money off the supplier cost. The rate in question you are referring to is our Distribution rate, which would be found under the delivery portion of the bill.
Oh Lord
Happy to hear they are gonna be proactive finally in the tree related outages!! The trimming & removal is absolutely necessary, I have lived in this area my entire life & I have never seen as many trees down & laying on wires forever. Never seen anyone checking or taking care of this problem. Thx!! My power seems to go out more than ever in the past couple of years, very frustrating. As I am a Senior citizen, this last 5 day power outage has left with with more cleanup than I can physically take care of.
Can you pay half my bill this month. Please?
Laura. Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-342-5775 M-F 8AM-5PM for any payment related questions. Thank you.
Why is this for LOW INCOME family customers ONLY? Why not for middle to upper class income families as well? We have worked hard to be the income class we are. We deserve as much discounts as those specified. Or do you require we all become low income to receive your rate discounts? Please reconsider who you charge increases to. America has never practiced SOCIALISM and we shouldn’t have to now. You are deleting the middle class. Charge rate increases to those who get everything for free and stop increasing rates for hard working people. Thank you!
What were you doing with the money you were receiving prior to the PUC giving you approval for this recent request? It doesn’t appear that you were keeping up with the upgrades to the current distribution system…
I had not been aware that PPL had not had a base rate increase since 2016. And that the new rate approval includes an agreement for the company to maintain the new rates for at least two years going forward. Thanks for this information.
I appreciate you taking money from large customers and helping low income people, but my bill has doubled and rates aren’t going down. Help everyone, think about everyone.
Why don’t you put the power line higher than the trees. Yes the insulation will be high but over time it will pay for itself. No contracts for cutting trees, better for the environment, and less power outages. Means less overtime hours.
In regards to the stronger distribution system mentioned: I’d like PP&L to look at the aging poles & lines in the Lenker Manor 17111 area, specifically Bonnymeade, Rosewood, Sharon, Montour & Rutherford Streets. It is almost a guarantee when a storm rolls through,our neighborhood loses power. I specifically have lost power on non-storm days. Currently preparing to lose power for today’s (7/18) storms that are predicted.
Good afternoon, Kimberly. Thank you for the feedback. We would like to look into this for you, however, due to privacy restrictions are unable to do so through our blog. When you have time, please contact us at 1-800-342-5775 M-F 8AM-5PM and we can review the situation and send it to our field office for further investigation. Thank you.
This is a good comprehensive plan.Trees are notorious and can be corrected daily easily.
When are shareholders going to share some of the infrastructure costs?
I do NOT approve my rates being increased while “low income” families get benefits while getting their nails done and going on annual vacations. I’m hard working full time to pay for someone else’s electricity. Enough is enough!