Jun 19, 2025 | Storms and Outages
A round of severe weather is expected to move across our territory this afternoon into the evening hours. The storm is expected to produce wind gusts of 50-plus mph in addition to lightning and rain.
We have been monitoring this storm closely over the past few days and are ready to respond. Even with the best preparation, storms and severe weather can cause damage and result in outages. We’ve activated our storm response plans, which include:
- Activating storm teams with additional personnel in the field, control centers and customer service centers across our 29-county territory.
- Implementing 16-hour shifts for around-the-clock coverage.
- Bringing in additional crews from outside the company to assist in restoration efforts.
We encourage you to also prepare for the storm. We offer the following safety tips and reminders:
- If you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized and stay away. If you see one, report it immediately to PPL Electric.
- Just in case you lose power, it’s good to have an emergency kit on hand with food, water, medication and any pet supplies you may need.
- We encourage customers who have medical conditions requiring electricity to make arrangements in case of an emergency.
- Make sure to keep phones and other mobile devices charged.
- Remember that candles can start fires. If you lose power, use flashlights instead. If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors.
- For your safety and ours, please keep a safe distance from our crews.
To report or check the status of an outage, visit pplelectric.com/outage.
May 8, 2025 | Bill Help, Customer Service
With many household costs on the rise, we want to do everything possible to help manage energy costs and keep monthly bills as predictable and reasonable as possible.
Because of this, the PPL Foundation has doubled our annual donation to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund from $200,000 to $400,000 in 2025.
What is the Good Neighbor Energy Fund?
The Good Neighbor Energy Fund, administered by the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, is designed to address the growing energy cost burdens faced by our customers. The funds are distributed to households through community-based organizations across PPL Electric Utilities’ service territory. Households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level may qualify for assistance up to $1,000.
“We recognize that rising costs of goods and services create challenges for many families and individuals, and we’re pleased to be able to provide this additional support to help them navigate financial hardships,” said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities and an officer of the PPL Foundation. “By empowering nonprofits already on the ground with the resources they need, we’re able to get help to families faster. This program underscores the importance of partnership in addressing community challenges.”
How can I apply?
If you are interested in assistance, you can contact one of the 14 following energy fund recipients directly:
- 4 Girls on a Mission – Electric utility assistance: Visit website
- Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. – CSO utility assistance: Visit website
- Family Promise of Berks County, Inc. – Rent and utility assistance: Visit website
- Family Promise of the Poconos, Inc. – Project Lights On: Visit website
- Lehigh Conference of Churches – Utility assistance at Lehigh Conference of Churches: Visit website
- New Bethany – New Bethany’s housing advocacy & assistance: Visit website
- Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley – Promise utility assistance program: Visit website
- Raising the House – Family assistance program: Visit website
- Salvation Army of East Stroudsburg – Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Corps utility assistance program serving Monroe County: Visit website
- The Open Link – Upper Perkiomen Valley utility assistance: Visit website
- Third Street Alliance for Women & Children – Third Street Alliance utility assistance program: Visit website
- Tri County Community Action – Powering stability: Expanding utility support for families in need: Visit website
- Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, Inc. – Utility assistance for domestic abuse survivors: Visit website
- Valley Youth House – Utility assistance for formerly homeless youth and families in rapid re-housing programs: Visit website
We also offer a variety of other programs and tools to help reduce energy usage and manage bills. Visit pplelectric.com/SeasonalSavings to find out which program is right for you.
Apr 17, 2025 | Community Involvement, Energy Efficiency
Over 500 students participated in the annual Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest and 27 participated in the Think! Energy Innovation Challenge, presented by PPL Electric Utilities. Students designed posters and other creative projects to illustrate practical ideas for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Contest submissions came from students whose classes participated in energy efficiency presentations and hands-on activities. Topics and bright ideas from this year’s poster entries included recycling, efficient lighting, using solar power, turning off appliances when not in use and more.
Budding artists from kindergarten through 8th grade took part in the Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest. Along with highlighting environmental awareness, the artwork also earned accolades for several participants. Grand prize winners received a $100 gift card, plus a $100 grant for the teacher and a pizza or ice cream party for the class. Honorable mentions received a $25 gift card and a pizza or ice cream party.
The Think! Energy Innovation Challenge encouraged 9th through 12th grade students to create compelling video and artwork showcasing their ideas for water and energy efficiency. Teams of up to four students submitted their work, with the grand prize and honorable mention recipients each receiving wireless headphones.
Teachers emphasized the importance of sustainability education following this year’s event.
“Thank you to PPL Electric Utilities for offering this opportunity to my students,” said Ms. Nikki Giannaras from Hanover Elementary School. “They were very excited about the contest. A big congratulations to my student, Evy, on winning the Grand Prize!”
“The energy program was perfect to jump-start our class lessons on conservation and energy,” said Ms. Justine Taylor from Conestoga Christian School. “My students were excited to participate in the poster contest and were blessed to be awarded with a party when one of my students won an honorable mention. Thank you, PPL Electric Utilities, for all you do for our community!”
“I am beyond excited to share that one of my students, Cayden, was selected for an honorable mention in the PPL Electric Utilities contest!” said Ms. Nicole Szarka from Willow Lane Elementary School. “We had such an amazing time during the presentation, where my students and I learned so much about the energy industry, sustainability and how we can all make a difference. The hands-on experience and engaging activities during the visit truly inspired my students… It’s moments like these that remind me how much potential each of my students has to achieve great things.”
PPL Electric Utilities is proud to host the Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest and Innovation Challenge. Find the full list of winners below and enjoy their artwork here.
Looking for ways to find energy savings at home? Explore our getting started guide.
Poster contest pizza party at Drums Elementary School.
Poster contest honorable mention (Jacob) from Blue Mountain Elementary School.
Innovation Challenge grand prize winners (Solenne and Serafima) from Lancaster Catholic High School.
Innovation Challenge honorable mentions (Logan, Elani and Shelby) from Donegal High School.
Grades K – 2nd
Grand Prize: Liam (Ms. Melissa McGee; Drums Elementary School)
Honorable Mentions: Cayden (Ms. Nicole Szarka; Willow Lane Elementary School), Samantha (Mc. Jaclyn Tumolo; Lincoln Elementary School)
Grades 3rd – 5th
Grand Prize: Evelyn (Ms. Nikki Giannaras; Hanover Elementary School)
Honorable Mention: Jacob (Ms. Amanda Deal; Blue Mountain East Elementary School), Lila (Ms. Justine Taylor; Conestoga Christian School)
Grades 6th – 8th
Grand Prize: Lyla (Mr. Joshua Abrams; Springhouse Middle School)
Grades 9th – 12th (Innovation Challenge)
Grand Prize: Solenne and Serafima (Ms. Anne Bleistine; Lancaster Catholic High School)
Honorable Mention: Aidyn and Mitch (Mr. Mark Nebzydoski; Western Wayne High School), Logan, Elani and Shelby (Mr. Matthew Deller and Mr. Robert Swisher; Donegal High School)
Apr 16, 2025 | Community Involvement
We believe that education is vital for vibrant communities. That’s why we donate our time, energy and our know-how to help students and teachers in our neighborhoods. Through PPL Foundation grants, we are helping prepare today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders.
Community Services for Children (CSC) is a recipient of an Education Improvement Tax Credit grant. The organization is using this grant to help support its two “Innovation Labs” at its downtown Allentown location.
The labs provide a number of hands-on STEM learning tools and programs to help build thinking and collaboration skills for preschool-aged children in Allentown.
“CSC is about connecting families to the resources that they need,” said Deidra Vachier, CEO and president of CSC. “Many of the children that we serve, because they are some of our most vulnerable children have never had a preschool experience.”
Due in part to the opportunities provided by the labs, CSC says that kids’ test scores at the downtown Allentown location have been higher than other locations in the region.
“It supports everything that the PPL Foundation supports,” said Jane George, manager of government affairs and special projects at PPL Electric Utilities. “[The students] were engaged, they wanted to learn, and this is becoming their foundation for future learning.”
View the video below to learn more about the PPL Foundation, CSC and how these Innovation Labs are helping these young students learn vital educational skills.
Apr 9, 2025 | Community Involvement
Through the PPL Foundation’s Empowering Communities grants, we support local programs focused on education, environmental stewardship, economic development and/or workforce development. We believe that serving our communities means much more than just delivering safe and reliable electricity.
UPMC in North Central Pa. and Susquehanna Health Foundation are recent recipients of an Empowering Communities grant. The health system’s foundation is using this grant to support its nursing co-op program. The co-op graduated 11 local high schoolers on April 4 after 15 weeks of hands-on, real-world experience inside of area UPMC locations. The students come from Loyalsock, Williamsport, South Williamsport and Hughesville high schools.
We believe in supporting education and setting up students for long-term success in their careers. That’s why we have provided grants to Susquehanna Health Foundation since 2023.
“These students are getting the full experience,” said Alison Gower, program director for the co-op at UPMC Williamsport. “They work alongside the nurses and nurse aids, and work with patients on a personal level to help give them the care that they need.”
The student nurses rotate through several departments during the program, including the medical-surgical unit, emergency department, The Birthplace, Intensive Care Unit, rehabilitation, pediatrics, Operating Room and a unit of the students’ choice that they are most interested in learning more about. 
“This is something that most students don’t get to do when they’re in high school. It’s been an incredible experience,” said Abigail Lorson, a senior at South Williamsport High School. “I’ve learned that this job is about devoting yourself to the patients and making them feel as comfortable as they can be. You can’t learn this level of care in a book.”
“It’s really nice to have a program like this because it has given me a chance to try out a role before committing my career to it,” added fellow South Williamsport senior Alizabeth Schuler.”
The co-op is a paid program that gives not only hands-on experience, but a boost to the start of students’ college careers. And for those who do not pursue higher education, there are opportunities to work at UPMC after the program. Of the 44 students who have graduated from the program in the last five co-ops, 14 have been hired into care attendant positions.
“When I first started the co-op, I didn’t know where within the hospital I wanted to go,” said Michael Yoas, another senior at South Williamsport. “This showed me the areas that I liked and enjoyed, and I want to someday become a registered nurse.”
While providing care to the patients is the top priority of this co-op, it is providing clarity to the students and affirming that this career path is right for them.
“It has been everything I imagined and more; this experience clarified for me that this is what I want to do with my life,” Lorson said.
“We really appreciate our partnership with Susquehanna Health Foundation and UPMC,” said Jonah Howe, regional affairs director at PPL Electric Utilities. “This type of opportunity is so crucial to the future of healthcare and taking care of our communities, and this level of program is a perfect fit for an Empowering Communities grant.”
The latest batch of co-op students have now officially moved on from the program, but two more semesters of students will join the team next school year, beginning in the fall.
“Over the years, the students have all been very responsible and hardworking, and it’s so great to see their excitement,” Gower said. “We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from PPL, and we look forward to growing this program and educating these students.”
