The summer heat can be unbearable. But keeping your home cool and comfortable may be causing your electric bill to increase. With air conditioning, cooling equipment or dehumidifiers working overtime during extreme heat, it’s common to see spikes in your summer usage.
If your bill is higher this summer, it may be due to a combination of factors, including increased energy use during hot weather, changes in the price of electricity supply and the new distribution base rate that took effect July 1.
As your local electric company, we deliver electricity to your home, but we don’t own or operate the power plants where that electricity is generated. In Pennsylvania, you can shop for a third-party supplier based on price or other factors, or you’ll automatically pay the Price to Compare.
If you have a supplier, now is a good time to check the price you’re paying and use the Price to Compare as a benchmark. Many customers sign up with a supplier that initially offers a lower rate but lose track of contract terms or supplier notifications and end up shifting to a variable rate that is much higher than the Price to Compare.
In May, residential customers paying rates above the Price to Compare collectively paid about $7.2 million more than the default rate, while those paying below it saved approximately $2.3 million. These differences reflect the range of products and pricing options available in the competitive market.
With the cost of everyday essentials continuing to rise, every dollar counts. Taking a few minutes to review your options and regularly check the price you’re paying for supply can help you stay informed and avoid paying more than necessary.
5 ways to take control of your summer bill
Track your energy use to stay informed. Even small energy-saving changes can make a big impact.
Review your supply price and compare offers from third-party suppliers at papowerswitch.com.
Sign up for PPL Alerts to receive Price to Compare notifications, bill due reminders and more.
Enroll in Budget Billing to even out the seasonal swings in your bill and make your monthly payments more predictable.
Check out our Bill Toolkit at pplelectric.com/toolkit for a comprehensive list of simple tools and support to help make your bill more affordable.
Last month, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a settlement resolving our distribution rate review. Here’swhat 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 demandgrows
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.
July is kicking off our first heat wave of the summer. But we’re here to keep you safe, cool and informed.
Extreme heat can be dangerous, but you don’t have to face it alone.
Steve is sharing three ways our crews — and you, too — can stay safe as we head into the holiday weekend.
If you’re looking for a break from the heat, we’re also sharing cooling center locations available across our region.
Updated July 4: We’ve added new locations across Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton, York, Berks and Lackawanna counties, and removed locations that have closed for the season’s first heat event.
Can’t find a location near you? Call 211.
PA 211 can connect you with the nearest open cooling location anywhere in our service territory — free, confidential and available 24/7, including holidays.
City of Allentown Pools — Cedar Beach, Mack and Irving
Hours: Daily, noon to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
City of Allentown Spray Parks — Bucky Boyle, Clyde E. Bosket Sr. and Old Allentown Fairgrounds
Hours: Daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Northampton County
Northampton County senior centers are open as cooling stations on dangerously hot days during regular weekday hours, and all are accessible via LANTA transportation:
Basilio Huertas Senior Center
520 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA 18015
Hours: Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Cherryville Senior Center
4131 Lehigh Dr., Cherryville, PA 18035
Hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Silver Connections Senior Center
901 Washington St., Easton, PA 18042
Hours: Weekdays, opens at 9 a.m.
Wayne County
Honesdale Public Library
1406 Main St., Honesdale, PA 18431
Hours: Daily, until 6 p.m. (call ahead to confirm holiday hours)
For additional cooling locations in Wayne County, dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
York County
LifePath Christian Ministries
367 W. Market St., York, PA 17401
Hours: Extended cooling hours through July 5, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Overnight shelter hotline: 717-472-8911
Hanover Area Council of Churches
136 Carlisle St., Hanover, PA 17331
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Berks County
The Berks County Area Agency on Aging has designated its senior centers as cooling locations during their normal weekday business hours. Free fans are available for adults over 60 at the Mohnton senior center.
For locations and hours, call the Berks County Area Agency on Aging at 610-478-6500 or visit berksaging.org
Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County senior community centers are open as cooling locations during regular weekday hours:
Scranton Senior Community Center — 1004 Jackson St., Scranton — Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Fallbrook Senior Community Center — 185 Fallbrook Ave., Carbondale — Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Hillside Senior Community Center — 1151 Winola Rd., Clarks Summit — Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Dunmore Senior Community Center — 1414 Monroe Ave., Dunmore — Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Throop Senior Community Center — 500 Sanderson St., Throop — Monday – Friday, from 10 a.m.
Mid Valley Senior Community Center — 310 Church St., Jessup — Monday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
North Pocono Senior Community Center — 6 John J. Michaels Dr., Covington Township — Monday – Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Taylor Senior Community Center — 700 S. Main St., Taylor — Monday – Wednesday, noon to 3 p.m.
Many county cooling locations operate on weekday schedules. If you need a cool place to go on a weekend or holiday, call 211 or visit an air-conditioned public space like a library, mall or community center near you.
Summer heat and increased energy use can bring extra stress. We’re here to help you stay in control.
Our Bill Toolkit makes it easier to manage your bill, understand your energy use and find help when you need it. Whether you’re planning ahead or looking for support today, you’ll find simple tools and resources designed to meet you where you are.
Since no two households are the same, our Bill Toolkit offers a wide variety of resources for all families, regardless of income.
Choose the solutions that work for you and save this summer.
Manage your bill.
Take steps now to make your payments more predictable and avoid surprises later in the season.
Budget Billing: Enroll for more predictable payments.
PPL Alerts: Stay informed with alerts about Price to Compare changes and bill due reminders.
Shop for a supplier: Review offers from third-party suppliers and choose one that’s right for you.
Manage your energy use.
Small changes can make a big difference, especially as summer usage begins to climb.
Explore Energy Analyzer: See when, where and how your home uses energy so you can learn where to use less and save more.
Find No-Cost Energy Saving Tips: Easy ways to stay cool while using less electricity.
Schedule a Virtual Assessment: Kickstart your energy efficiency journey and get personalized recommendations with a no-cost home energy assessment.
Get help paying, now.
If paying your bill is a challenge, support is available for all households.
Set up a payment arrangement: Pay off a past due balance over time.
Get assistance: See if you’re eligible for fixed monthly payments and debt forgiveness with OnTrack.
Apply for a grant: Operation HELP offers cash grants toward your electric bill, if eligible.
Summer’s highest energy use is still ahead and taking a few steps now can make a real difference in the months to come. Explore our tools, plan ahead and feel more confident heading into the season.
Earlier this month, we submitted a joint petition for non-unanimous settlement to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) requesting approval for an increase in base distribution rates. The proposed settlement reflects months of public review and compromise, ensuring customers receive safe, reliable electric service while maintaining strong protections for affordability.
What does this mean for you?
We know any increase to your electric bill matters. That’s why we’re committed to operating efficiently and supporting you with a variety of resources. In fact, this is our first request to change distribution rates since 2016 — while managing our expenses nearly 25% below the rate of inflation. The result: we held the line on customer costs in a way that very few utilities in this country can point to.
If approved, this settlement includes investments in a stronger system, enhanced assistance for vulnerable customers, expanded payment flexibility and a two-year pause on additional base rate increases.
See how these smart investments are set to boost your service and make your power more reliable:
Building a stronger electric system: We’re planning targeted investments — stronger poles, upgraded wires, smart grid technology — designed to reduce outages and restore power faster in the future as severe weather intensifies. These improvements help avoid higher costs over time by reducing damage and disruptions.
Expanding assistance for customers who need it most: We’re expanding support for vulnerable customers by increasing hardship fund bill credits, improving access to assistance programs, eliminating reconnection fees, streamlining the return of security deposits and boosting the annual low-income weatherization budget.
Supporting responsible large load growth: Large‑load customers, such as data centers, place unique demands on the system. A new large-load rate class ensures our large users make long-term financial and usage commitments to protect other customers from additional infrastructure costs, while also providing $11 million in annual support for low‑income residential customers.
Adding small business protections: We plan to mitigate cost impacts of net-metered distributed generation and introduces new, flexible payment options for small businesses.
Together, these measures are intended to balance necessary system improvements with protections that help customers manage costs.
Our commitment to accountability
We know you work hard for your money and affordability and reliability remain core priorities for us.The PUC closely reviews and monitors how utilities invest customer dollars, and this settlement includes additional reporting and establishes service expectations to ensure you see real improvements and benefits.
We are committed to operating efficiently, managing costs responsibly and being transparent about the outcomes customers can expect from these investments.
