Aug 18, 2021 | Safety and Security
George Culbertson didn’t think twice when he came upon a horrific vehicle crash on Interstate 476 in Montgomery County.
On his way home from work, the field supervisor and third-generation firefighter did what he has so many times before. First, he used his Montgomery County radio to alert a dispatcher to the crash and the need for emergency help. Then, he rushed to the mangled vehicle to see how he could help whoever was inside.
And the driver, who was alone in the vehicle, was in dire need of help.
Drifting in and out of consciousness, the driver was trapped. He suffered serious injuries, including an amputated arm. Culbertson managed to get into the rear of the vehicle to speak to the man, assess his condition and the extent of his injuries, and ask a nurse, who happened to be at the accident scene, to immobilize his head and neck.
“Time was of the essence,” said Culbertson, who knew how critical it was to get the man medical help within the “golden hour” after the crash.
He contacted the rescue company and explained the man could not be taken out of the car without removing the doors and roof. Once they arrived, Culbertson grabbed a reciprocating saw and started removing the windshield. It took more than 40 minutes to remove the roof and doors using the Jaws of Life and get the victim safely into a medical helicopter to be transported to the hospital.
Culbertson was later informed that the man had his amputated arm surgically reattached at a trauma center.
Looking back on the day’s events, it was one of the worst vehicle crash scenes that he has ever seen in his 31 years as a volunteer firefighter.
“I just wanted to do the right thing,” he said. “I hope I gave this person the best chance of survival during what was probably the worst day of his life.”
We’re so proud of George’s heroic response.
Aug 17, 2021 | Customer Service
When you receive your PPL bill – or when you view it online – this month, you’ll notice it looks a little different.
We’ve made it easier than ever for you to view your balance, make payments and manage your energy use.
You gave us feedback on the existing design and we heard you loud and clear. This new version highlights the key components of your bill, the ones that are most important to you and have the potential to help you save.
- We’ve made the supply and delivery charges front and center, so you can easily view the price you’re paying for energy supply and compare it to the PPL price-to-compare.
- The new bill displays a year-over-year comparison of your energy use, so you can make more informed energy choices.
In addition to these changes, you can see your payment amount, payment due date, and more in one quick glance.
Want a step-by-step guide to viewing your new and improved PPL bill, click here.
And if you’re not already enrolled on paperless billing, now is the perfect time to give it a try. You can switch back to a paper bill at any time, but we think you’ll love how easy it is to view your bill online, get email and text alerts, and make payments. Plus, you won’t risk any paper cuts or have to deal with envelopes and stamps! Go paperless today.
Aug 15, 2021 | Storms and Outages
Customers who have been without power for 24 hours or more as a result of storms can now purchase ice and water from any local vendor and send us the receipts. If you send us your receipts, we’ll credit your account.
Each customer can purchase a maximum of three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water per day.
Additional purchases will not be eligible for an account credit.
Please mail your receipts to:
PPL Electric Utilities
Attn: Ice and Water
827 Hausman Road
Allentown PA 18104
And don’t forget to include your account number.
Aug 11, 2021 | Community Involvement, Environment
We’re passionate about pollinators and the positive impact they have on our environment. Birds, bees, and butterflies are just a few of the pollinators that help sustain our ecosystem. And we’re committed to preserving and protecting them.
Since 2017, we have distributed more than 105,000 free trees through our Community Roots program to help preserve the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and promoting healthy waterways.
Now, we’re adapting our Community Roots efforts and focusing on giving these birds, bees, and butterflies a natural food source. A minty one, at that!
We’ll be providing free pollinator-friendly mountain mint, grown by Edge of the Woods Plant Nursery, at baseball games and farmers’ markets across our territory through the fall.
Visit pplelectric.com or follow us on social media for updates on our environmental programs and upcoming events near you.
Planting your own pollinators? Post a photo on Facebook, tag PPL Electric Utilities, and use the hashtag #MyPPLPollinatorPatch.
Thanks for joining us in our efforts towards a greener future!
Jul 26, 2021 | Safety and Security
Do you intend to plant trees, shrubs or flower beds in your yard or start up a backyard construction project in the near future? If so, be sure to call 811 before you start!
Make the call, for your safety and the safety of others.
Everyone should make the 811 call before any digging project. It costs you nothing, it’s simple and it doesn’t take much time. Plus, it may help prevent a serious injury and costly damages to underground utilities like power or water lines.
Each year, there are about 6,000 reports of underground utilities being struck in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. And every year, PPL receives reports of about 60 to 75 digging incidents in which the person doing the digging failed to call 811.
What’s more, it’s the law. In Pennsylvania, you’re required to place an 811 call three business days before any digging that is done by power equipment like Bobcats, front-end loaders, power augers, rototillers, and aerators. We recommend that you place a call before any digging project, even if it’s with an old-fashioned shovel.
Once you place the call, a crew will come out and use spray paint, flags or other identifiers to show areas where underground utilities exist. And if you notice a digging project going on in your neighborhood and are unsure whether an 811 call was placed in advance, make the call just to be sure.
When you make an 811 call, please be prepared to provide the following information:
- County and municipality in which the planned dig is located.
- The street name and address.
- The nearest intersecting/cross street to the address.
- Details of the dig site, including the area of the property where excavation will occur and what kind of work is being done.
- When the project is scheduled to take place.
- The name of the company doing the work (if applicable).
For more info about the Call Before You Dig law, visit pa811.org. And for more safety info, visit pplelectric.com/safety.
