The post-holiday blues have just set in, and the winter bills are already piling up. The holiday season — with all its joy and happiness — can be expensive. We feel it, too.
But if you’re receiving higher-than-usual utility bills, we have some explanations, as well as resources to help you conserve and save throughout the rest of this cold winter.
Check out a few reasons your bill may run higher in January:
Colder temps
You may not recall the average temps during the hustle and bustle of the season, but the last month has been pretty chilly across Pennsylvania. If you have electric heat or use electric space heaters to supplement your primary heating source, it’s likely they were working overtime when the temps dropped. Check out our Energy Analyzer at pplelectric.com/EnergyAnalyzer to see how colder temps affect your usage and discover ways to save.
Holiday hosting and usage
Check out the daily usage graph for your most recent bill. Go back to the first day of your billing cycle and try to remember if the days between were any different than those in prior months. For instance, did you:
- Host any holiday gatherings during the bill cycle in question?
- Hang lots of Christmas lights or decorate your front lawn with inflatables?
- Have extra visitors in your home plugging in additional electronics?
- Cook a big family dinner or bake holiday cookies?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, they could be reasons your usage spiked.
The breakdown on bill cycles
Did you know an average bill cycle may range from 26 to 35 days? The number of days billed depends on a variety of things, such as the number of business days within the month. Bills for electric use in November and December tend to have more days than those during the rest of the year because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday breaks. This may lead to a higher January bill even if, on average, you were using the same amount of electricity per day.
Budget Billing can help prevent the seasonal swings in your bill. The Budget program evens out your bill over 12 months and makes your payments more predictable. We’ll review your usage every three months to see if your budget amount needs adjustments. At the end of 12 months on the budget, we’ll settle the difference between your actual energy use and the amount you were billed. If you used more, we’ll bill you the difference. If you used less, we’ll credit your account.
Explore your options to save
Our Seasonal Savings Solutions offer resources to help you manage your bill, become more energy efficient and get payment assistance when you need it. Find the right combination of options to help you offset higher winter bills.
Manage your energy use:
- Maintaining your energy use is an effective way to manage costs at any income level. From no-cost and low-cost tips to tools, programs and rebates on energy-efficient products, we can help you conserve and save.
Manage your bill:
- With options like making your bill more predictable, finding tools to track your hourly, daily or monthly electricity use, setting bill alerts, shopping for a supplier and requesting more time to pay, choose the resources that are right for you.
Get help paying:
- If you need help paying your bill, we’re here for you. We have programs and payment arrangements to help every family in need, regardless of income.
If you use more electricity over the winter, you’re not alone. Find the right combination of options to help you offset higher bills at pplelectric.com/SeasonalSavings.
need help wiith bill
I don’t know what my balance is that I owe and need help paying my bills because I am 67yrs old in bad health on a fixed income
Good afternoon Francis,
We’re sorry you’re having difficulties. If you need an updated account balance, you can register and sign in to our online portal at http://selfserve.pplelectric.com/sign-in . You can also read and apply to assistance programs to help with your bill under https://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp.
If you’d prefer to speak to an agent, please contact us at 1-800-342-5775 M-F 8AM-5PM.
I’m trying to get enough scrap to pay my bills right now to live I lost my job and don’t have enough money
Good afternoon Kimberly,
Please read and apply to assistance programs to help with your bill under https://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp.
Our OnTrack program offers a lower monthly bill based on family size, income, and electric usage with debt forgiveness.
Operation Help provides credit for your account.
LIHEAP is government funding with money that would be posted directly to your account if approved.
The Customer Assistance and Referral Services program is offered to customers who are experiencing a temporary hardship that will affect their ability to make their regular electric bill payment by the due date. Through CARES, a customer can receive referrals to other community programs for possible assistance with immediate hardships. Please call 1-800-358-6623 if you think this program can help you.
Also, you can read about The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that provides federal funding to help individuals. Information on how to apply is on our website at http://www.pplelectric.com/erap.
We hope any of this information helps!
Hi Linda , I hear ya , they say computers make things ez – bs , it got worse . Good luck logging in and signing on . Maybe 🤔 they will allow you to pay them
Yes please
Need help in lowering my bill.
My biggest bill
This bill is ridiculous and outrageous. Please take me off your service and put me back on PPL regular. I pay $100 dollars a month and now you are charging me $600 to $800 dollars a month. I am retired senior citizen and am on a fixed income. Please if you are not able to provide low cost electric services, I suggest you get out the business. Please, place me back on the regular PPL. Thank you
Good afternoon Kehinde. PPL is already the default supplier for customers when they have cancelled with another supplier or have not chosen one at all. If the issue you are experiencing is due to higher rates from your supplier, we would urge you to contact your Generation Supplier on your account to discuss those changes. If you cancel the supplier, they electronically notify PPL of your cancellation. We then mail a letter to your home confirming the supplier is cancelled and your account is returned to PPL. If you are interested in shopping for suppliers in the future, read more under papowerswitch.com. Please read more about safely shopping for suppliers under http://www.pplelectric.com/shopsmart.
windows and door is not properly insulated and the landlord doesn’t want to do nothing about it.
Good morning David, Our WRAP program provides income-eligible customers with a no-cost energy assessment, free energy-saving products and energy tips for long-term savings. You can find more information and apply at https://pplelectric.com/site/Ways-to-Save/Assistance-Programs/WRAP.
We also offer a FREE Virtual Home Energy Assessment that includes a phone consultation with a trained Energy Advisor, energy efficiency recommendations specific to your home and a free personalized energy savings kit. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
do you offer remote employment for me ?
i can work from my ho my home to help pop sy my utilities
any assistant in remote employment would be greatly appreciated thanking you in advance Judith
Good morning Judith, You can apply for assistance programs online under https://www.pplelectric.com/site/Ways-to-Save/Assistance-Programs. You can check out WRAP which helps homeowners and renters with products and services that can help reduce your electricity use.
I’m having difficulty paying my bill.
I’m on disability and I don’t get enough to cover everything to cover my bills
Good morning Leonard, You can apply for assistance programs online under https://www.pplelectric.com/site/Ways-to-Save/Assistance-Programs. You can check out WRAP which helps homeowners and renters with products and services that can help reduce your electricity use.
I have an electric fireplace (small) in my basement (120v; 60hz; 1200w; 4095btu) and I had thought it would save on my main heat source upstairs from running so much. Now, I’m wondering if this small unit plugged in and running all the time may have spiked my electric bill almost $100 from last month?
When I run this small unit, it really helps to heat my home both up and downstairs and I’ve only got my thermostat set to 66. My AC/Heat unit hardly runs outside when I’m using this smaller electric fireplace.
Is someone able to tell me if this is using more electric vs me just turning it off and using my main heat source at 66-67?
Good afternoon, Tina,
An electric fireplace is similar in function to a space heater. Whether or not it’s causing the bill to increase, the best method is to eliminate the fireplace for a day or more to compare it to a similar day that it was in use. You can do this by checking your daily usage through the online customer portal, readings are updated every 24-48 hours to review.
Yes, my gas heater was down for two months while the government shut down and I couldn’t do anything about it so I had to go. They couldn’t help me until 17th in which they did, but I had to use electric heaters to heat my home until this could be done for two months and I’m on on track and I know I’m using up my electric to heat my home out of no fault to Mya
Looking to get an energy audit. I lose a lot of heat from my crawl space and around my wood stove insert when it is not in use.
Good afternoon, Mary. You can find out information about our free virtual assessments by visiting: https://www.pplelectricsavings.com/ppl/virtual/overview/ or call us at 1-877-486-9204. Thank you!
Well, i dont know, what to do, my bill every month is high and hihgest, so my last bill 485.00 and this month 730, my salary is no good for those pays, please do something for me bcause i dont know if i can pay the next month.
Good morning Ramon, You can apply for assistance programs online under https://www.pplelectric.com/site/Ways-to-Save/Assistance-Programs. You can check out WRAP which helps homeowners and renters with products and services that can help reduce your electricity use.
My Bill has increased more than expected.
Good morning Aracelis, We can offer several options to help.
If you have a web profile set up for your account, please sign in and view your daily & hourly usage online under http://www.pplelectric.com/analyze. You will see what time of day your usage is highest and can make lifestyle adjustments to lower your usage.
Review tips to save energy and money under http://www.savewithppl.com. We also offer a FREE Virtual Home Energy Assessment that includes a phone consultation with a trained Energy Advisor, energy efficiency recommendations specific to your home and a free personalized energy savings kit. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
We also have an Energy Education team available weekdays 8am-5pm to discuss your usage concerns at 1-800-342-5775 (say Energy Education). Thank you
My February bill was $706.00 and my December was $399.00. I cannot afford Seven Hundred Dollar a month Bills. The only thing I found was someone flipped my thermostat to Emergency heat. My wife and I kept it at 70 degrees but I am not sure who flipped my thermostat to emergency heat. I am going to keep an eye on it daily and we moved our thermostat down to 68 degrees. I am hoping my bill will be less then $399.00 on the next billing cycle.
Hello William,
Heat Pump systems have what’s called auxiliary heat or often labeled as “EM Heat”. It occurs when the heat pump can’t keep up with extreme cold or malfunctions, typically when the temperatures are below 20F. It’s important to keep an eye on it because it can use a significantly higher amount of energy when functioning in that mode. You can sign up for abnormal usage alerts (also known as Bill-to-Date) or monitor your usage through the tools available in your online portal.
You say with this programs to help, but you have to make no income in order to be considered for them which I feel is unfair, especially when the rates are high and taxes for electricity is high and this winter has been extremely cold. What about the rest of the people that get high bills and need help paying them
Ive been asking the same questions with no answers or replies
Last year I was on Auto-pay.
My bank account number changed in September 2025 due to a fraudulent transaction. How do I submit my new bank account number for Auto-pay?
I am in Florida for the winter.
Hello Robert. If you are in need of updating your autopay, you can do so by logging into the online portal at https://selfserve.pplelectric.com/sign-in, or contacting us at 1-800-342-5775 M-F 8AM-5PM.
La luz es muy cara no puedo pagar yo soy el único que trabaja en mi casa nesecito ayuda gracias ..
Buenos días, Alexander,
Podemos ofrecerle varias opciones para ayudarle.
Si tiene un perfil web configurado para su cuenta, inicie sesión y consulte su consumo diario y por hora en línea en http://www.pplelectric.com/analyze. Podrá ver a qué hora del día su consumo es mayor y realizar ajustes en sus hábitos para reducirlo.
Consulte consejos para ahorrar energía y dinero en http://www.savewithppl.com. Puede visitar http://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp para ver los programas de asistencia que ofrecemos y solicitar uno. También ofrecemos una Evaluación Virtual de Energía para el Hogar GRATUITA que incluye una consulta telefónica con un asesor energético capacitado, recomendaciones de eficiencia energética específicas para su hogar y un kit de ahorro de energía personalizado gratuito. Para obtener más información y programar una cita, visite http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
También contamos con un equipo de Educación Energética disponible de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. para hablar sobre sus inquietudes sobre el consumo de energía. Llame al 1-800-342-5775 (diga “Educación Energética”). Gracias.
I am my husbands caregiver and he is 83 years old and in bad health. He is house bound and we are inundated with medical bills and more. Can you help me decrease or eliminate my bill? My phone number is 717-824-5616..
Thank you I appreciate any help that you can give me.
Good afternoon, Kim.
We understand it can be overwhelming trying to figure out ways to reduce your costs! Here are some additional tools you can use to try and help lower your costs.
If you have a web profile set up for your account, please sign in and view your daily & hourly usage online under http://www.pplelectric.com/analyze. You will see what time of day your usage is highest and can make lifestyle adjustments to lower your usage.
Review tips to save energy and money under http://www.savewithppl.com. We also offer a FREE Virtual Home Energy Assessment that includes a phone consultation with a trained Energy Advisor, energy efficiency recommendations specific to your home and a free personalized energy savings kit. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
Apply for assistance programs online under http://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp. Read more about lowering your bill by shopping for a generation supplier at a lower rate under http://www.pplelectric.com/shopping.
We have an Energy Education team available weekdays 8am-5pm to discuss your usage concerns at 1-800-342-5775(say Energy Education). Thank you.
I’ve been using the PPL Energy Analyzer to help manage my energy usage for years. This winter the hourly energy usage charts do not work, always returning a message that says to try back later. Is there some way to fix this?
Hello Sam. If you are experiencing issues with the hourly or daily usage display, please contact us at 1-800-342-5775 M-F 8AM-5PM. We may need to bring up your account or check if a ticket needs to be placed if the problem persists. In the meantime, try clearing out your cache and cookies, closing the browser for a few minutes and trying again. If it is the Energy Analyzer, which opens in a separate tab, you can contact 1-877-486-9204 M-F 8AM-6PM, or e-mail technical issues to info@pplelectricsavings.com
My bill is higher than it has even been since living in the same house for 16 years. Why are price increasing so much? You need to do something to mask your costs more reasonable.
Good afternoon, Todd.
We understand it can be overwhelming trying to figure out ways to reduce your costs! Here are some additional tools you can use to try and help lower your costs.
If you have a web profile set up for your account, please sign in and view your daily & hourly usage online under http://www.pplelectric.com/analyze. You will see what time of day your usage is highest and can make lifestyle adjustments to lower your usage.
Review tips to save energy and money under http://www.savewithppl.com. We also offer a FREE Virtual Home Energy Assessment that includes a phone consultation with a trained Energy Advisor, energy efficiency recommendations specific to your home and a free personalized energy savings kit. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
Apply for assistance programs online under http://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp. Read more about lowering your bill by shopping for a generation supplier at a lower rate under http://www.pplelectric.com/shopping.
We have an Energy Education team available weekdays 8am-5pm to discuss your usage concerns at 1-800-342-5775(say Energy Education). Thank you.
I don’t know how my bill is so high, when I have not turned on the heat all Winter, never, not one day or night?!!! As an Unemployed Disabled Veteran with a Service Dog, I’m rather shocked at my bill. Not only have I not used the heat, I haven’t showered much or done as much laundry. Can someone please explain this to me?
Good afternoon, Todd.
We understand it can be overwhelming trying to figure out ways to reduce your costs! Here are some additional tools you can use to try and help lower your costs.
If you have a web profile set up for your account, please sign in and view your daily & hourly usage online under http://www.pplelectric.com/analyze. You will see what time of day your usage is highest and can make lifestyle adjustments to lower your usage.
Review tips to save energy and money under http://www.savewithppl.com. We also offer a FREE Virtual Home Energy Assessment that includes a phone consultation with a trained Energy Advisor, energy efficiency recommendations specific to your home and a free personalized energy savings kit. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit http://www.pplelectric.com/virtualassessment.
Apply for assistance programs online under http://www.pplelectric.com/billhelp. Read more about lowering your bill by shopping for a generation supplier at a lower rate under http://www.pplelectric.com/shopping.
We have an Energy Education team available weekdays 8am-5pm to discuss your usage concerns at 1-800-342-5775(say Energy Education). Thank you.