Jul 16, 2019 | Energy Efficiency
The dog days of summer are here, and the temperatures are sizzling. ☀️ No sweat … we’re here with tips to help you beat the heat.
You can save energy and money, even in extreme heat, with our energy efficiency tips:
- Make sure your drapes and shades are pulled down during the day to block the hot sun.
- Wear light clothing and set your thermostat between 72 and 78 degrees. You’ll save energy for every degree higher you can set your thermostat.
- Try not to use large appliances like dishwashers, stoves, washers and dryers during the warmest hours of the day. Incandescent light bulbs also produce heat, so switching to cooler and more efficient LED bulbs is a smart choice.
- Ceiling fans cost far less to use than air conditioners, but only turn them on in rooms that are occupied.
The National Weather Service reports about 175 Americans die from extreme heat in a normal year. Older adults, children and sick individuals are at greater risk from extreme heat.
Here are some tips to stay safe during the hottest days:
- Find a cool place with air conditioning and check on your at-risk family members or neighbors.
- Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages.
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car.
- Avoid strenuous activity.
- If you are outside, find shade and wear a hat big enough to protect your face.
Mar 7, 2019 | Energy Future
At PPL Electric Utilities, we’ve been watching with great interest the debate surrounding the future of nuclear power.
Proposed legislation currently circulating within the Pennsylvania General Assembly would require electric utilities to purchase as much as 50 percent of customer demand from nuclear energy as part of a new mandate under Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act.
We’re asking the General Assembly to seriously consider the broad impact and the unintended ramifications this aggressive proposal would have on all of our 1.4 million customers.
The conversation surrounding how to achieve long-term market-based solutions to reducing carbon is essential to Pennsylvania’s energy future. Our parent company, Pennsylvania-based PPL Corporation, supports efforts to advance a cleaner energy future and has committed reducing its carbon emissions 70 percent from 2010 levels by 2050. Additionally, PPL Electric Utilities has begun to undertake several projects that promote greater incorporation and growth of carbon-free energy sources, such as solar, onto our grid.
No one disputes that nuclear energy is carbon-free, but don’t confuse narrow nuclear subsidy proposals with efficient and effective economy-wide, market-based efforts to move the state toward a low carbon future.
This proposal, if adopted, will make Pennsylvania less competitive, impacting every electric customer in Pennsylvania and raising the average price of electricity in the state for years to come. We have estimated that our customers, alone, will pay $140 million more each year to rescue a single energy source that already benefits from an existing robust market.
If electricity customers are asked to bear this burden, customers should expect, and legislators should require that regulators have oversight. As a regulated utility, PPL Electric Utilities is required to open its books to the state’s Public Utility Commission and demonstrate a financial need before we can adjust the rates we charge to customers. Nuclear plant owners who are asking our state government to give them customer-funded financial assistance should be required to do the same. Recent draft proposals do not include this much needed requirement and also provide a subsidy for plants that are profitable.
This issue has been the focus of limited discussions for well over two years. It is only recently that proponents have turned up the heat on the General Assembly to act swiftly. Lawmakers should not fall for the “crisis” label that has been intentionally created by the bill proponents.
We’re asking lawmakers to take their time and properly vet this issue through the process — hold hearings, call in all stakeholders and most importantly, demand numbers from those advocating for this measure. Consider seeking independent audits or financial verification from outside resources available to the General Assembly.
In the end, lawmakers need to strongly consider whether hiding a nuclear bailout in customers’ electricity bills is necessary and the best course to moving Pennsylvania forward.
Feb 8, 2019 | Safety and Security
Scammers never sleep. Their targets are many, including electric utility customers.
Utilities across the U.S. are in constant battle with these thieves who try to fleece their customers. Don’t let it happen to you.
A common theme of scammers is threatening to disconnect power immediately if payment is not made, usually via a prepaid debit card. If you’re a PPL Electric Utilities customer, we want you to know that’s not how we do business.
We’ll give plenty of notice when there’s a possible risk of shutoff, and we don’t pressure anyone to use specific payment methods. We try to work with all customers to help them maintain uninterrupted service.
One recent scam report involved our current meter replacement project. We’re replacing our meters to better serve you and to comply with state energy-efficiency law regulations. We don’t demand immediate payment for the new meters and threaten to shut off your power. Meter project costs are being recovered over time through a charge on customer bills.
Remember, you can always check your account status by logging on at pplelectric.com or calling us at 1-800-DIAL-PPL. If you get a suspicious or threatening call that claims to come from another company – like a utility or a bank – do the same thing: Hang up and contact the company directly using a trusted method, like the phone number on your monthly statement, or a website you know belongs to that company.
Working together, we can stop these scammers from causing financial loss and heartache.
Dec 22, 2014 | Safety and Security
If you received a power tool over the holidays, please use it the right way. Following these great guidelines from the Electrical Safety Foundation International will help you complete your projects the best way — the safe way.
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with every power tool to protect against electric shocks.
- When working with electricity, use tools with insulated grips to avoid shocks.
- Always plug power tools into a grounded outlet, unless the tools are double-insulated.
- Never use power tools near power lines or water pipes.
- If a power tool trips a safety device like a GFCI outlet, take the tool to a repair center authorized by the manufacturer.
- Don’t use power tools without the proper guards.
- Don’t use power tools with an extension cord longer than 100 feet.
- Always use appropriate personal protective gear
- Use extreme caution when cutting or drilling into walls with electrical wires or water pipes.
Nov 25, 2014 | Energy Efficiency
Last winter, many customers on variable-rate plans for their generation supply faced high bills, resulting from a combination of high usage during the prolonged cold weather and volatile market prices.
We suggest a three-step plan to help customers avoid paying more than they have to for electricity:
1. Use energy wisely
We have many low-cost and no-cost tips to help you save energy. They include turning the thermostat down, if you can. Heating accounts for more than 30 percent of an average home’s energy bill. Turning the thermostat down about 1 degree saves about 2 percent on your heating bill, while turning it down 5 degrees saves about 10 percent. Also, seal your house against drafts, and have your ductwork checked for air leaks.
2. Shop for electricity
Shopping for everything from groceries to gasoline is part of almost every family’s routine. So why not shop for electricity, too? The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has a website that makes shopping easy: PAPowerSwitch.com.
3. Shop smart
Customers have two choices when they shop for their electricity: fixed rate and variable rate. If you have a variable rate, it means the price you pay per kilowatt-hour can change anytime, based on factors like weather and market conditions. A fixed-rate plan offers pricing stability for a defined period of time. There are many fixed-rate offers below PPL Electric Utilities’ price to compare — the rate PPL Electric Utilities charges customers who don’t shop.
Even if you’re already on a fixed-rate plan, it’s a good idea to check the terms and expiration date of your supply agreement. Sometimes fixed-rate plans automatically shift to variable-rate plans when they expire.
As with any purchase you make, it’s always good to double-check what you’re buying, and know the terms of your energy contract and the price you’ll pay this winter.
No matter where you buy your electricity, it will still be delivered safely and reliably by PPL Electric Utilities.
