Feb 11, 2021 | Community Involvement, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
On February 2, Monica Brooks, our manager of diversity & inclusion, stole the show as a panelist at the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion event at a Local Leaders Summit. The virtual event was presented to Leadership Lycoming alumni and included conversations around building a powerful and dynamic culture. Leadership Lycoming offers professional development opportunities for aspiring leaders and community volunteers. Over 100 graduates of the program attended the event.
Monica, along with the other panelists, discussed several topics, including:
- Creating awareness of implicit bias
- Diversity in the workplace
- Benefits of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Building authentic relationships and trust
Monica gave examples of our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion by talking about PPL’s Business Resource Groups, company policies, standards of integrity, and hiring practices. She also shared examples of our leaders’ commitment and dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace.
“At PPL we create an environment where people feel heard,” said Monica. “Employees know they can show up and be their true selves without judgment.”
The audience enjoyed a personal story Monica shared about her eagerness to advocate for fellow students as early as elementary school. Everyone agreed she was destined for this role.
To learn more about PPL’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, visit pplweb.com
Feb 1, 2021 | Community Involvement
We’re kicking off our annual Operation HELP campaign with hopes of helping more eligible families than ever before.
Operation HELP offers grants to customers struggling with their energy bills. And after a year like 2020, they can really use our support.
Every year, we support Operation HELP with nearly one million dollars in grant money. Our generous employees and customers also donate to help those in need. It’s the customer support that makes the program truly special. We can all find a way to help our community.
If you are able, we’re asking you to consider a donation. Your contribution, whether a one-time donation, or a few dollars every month, will help our neighbors keep their homes warm.
We live and work in this community together so when our friends, families, and neighbors need a hand, we deliver.
Visit pplelectric.com/operationhelp to learn more or donate.
Jan 27, 2021 | Energy Efficiency
This winter, you can keep cozy inside – and enjoy smart energy savings – by making sure your heating system is running at maximum efficiency. Here are a few simple steps you can take:
- Change your heating system’s air filter. A dirty air filter reduces your home’s air quality and the airflow through your HVAC system. Changing or cleaning the filter once a month will not only give you fresher air and prolong the life of your HVAC system, but it will save you money.
- Have your heating system inspected at least once a year. HVAC technicians can keep your system operating properly and efficiently. Annual inspections help you save energy, help your heating system live a longer life and prevent emergency problems from developing in the dead of winter. If your system needs replaced, be sure to have it properly installed. According to ENERGY STAR®, improper installation can reduce the efficiency of your system by up to 30%, costing you more on your utility bills.
- Use the “auto” setting on your thermostat. This will make sure your HVAC system only turns on when your indoor temperature drops below a certain temperature. Having the fan push air through your home all day and night wastes energy and adds to the wear and tear on your system.
- Upgrade your home’s insulation. In a well-insulated home, less heat escapes in the winter and less cool air escapes in the summer. That means you stay comfortable and reduce the amount of energy you use. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by adding insulation and sealing cracks and openings.
Jan 27, 2021 | Safety and Security
Spending more time indoors this winter?
We have 5 tips to keep you and your family safe around electricity this season:
- Space heaters can supplement your heat source, but never plug one into an extension cord. Make sure you plug your heater directly into an outlet to avoid fires.
- Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on every level of your home, especially outside of bedrooms.
- Inspect your power strips and extension cords regularly, and be sure to replace any fraying or damaged cords, which can cause fires.
- If you need to use a generator, place it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated outdoor location.
- With remote work and virtual schooling, you probably have lots of electronics plugged in around the house. Unplug items, such as cell phone and laptop chargers, when you’re not using them to avoid overloading your outlets.
And while we’re on the topic of winter, remember not to bury our pad-mounted transformers when shoveling snow or using a snow blower. And please don’t let young children play on or around them. It’s important to keep the transformers visible and easily accessible for our crews.
For more safety tips in and around your home, visit pplelectric.com.
Jan 26, 2021 | Reliability
Hurricanes have had names for 70 years. Now big winter storms get them. Go figure.
In the electric utility business, we’re always watching the weather, so we’re prepared to respond to any resulting power outages. Winter Storm Gail, which swept through our region in mid-December, was no exception. Our crews worked safely and quickly to get the lights back on for affected customers.
The good news is our hard work and investments in a safer, more reliable, and resilient power grid are paying off in increased reliability for you. Outages are down 30 percent since 2011. And storms, whether named Gail or otherwise, don’t cause as many service problems today compared to even a decade ago.
Here’s why. We’ve replaced older equipment, put up stronger poles and wires, and have a state-of-the-art smart grid in place to automatically detect outages and instantly reroute power to shrink outage footprints and keep the lights on for more customers. Smart grid alone has prevented more than 1 million PPL customer outages since 2015.
Couple that with using data analytics for smarter, more efficient equipment maintenance and a comprehensive tree trimming and clearing program, and you have one of the most reliable grids around.
Among our electric utility peers, we’re a national leader in reliability. That’s a good thing, but we don’t stop trying to improve your service. You rightfully expect that from us.
You can be sure we’ll continue to innovate, looking for ways to make a very reliable grid even better. No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, you can bet the power grid delivering electricity to your home or business – and the people behind it – will serve you well.
