Be Prepared Archives - People Powering Life

Reliability starts before the storm

Feb 11, 2026 | Reliability

Winter storms can bring heavy snow, ice and strong winds. Conditions that put stress on power lines and equipment. That’s why we don’t wait for trouble to strike. Our teams work throughout the year to inspect, maintain and upgrade the grid. From replacing aging equipment to installing smart technology that helps us detect and respond to outages faster, these steps make a big difference when storms hit.

In 2025, we completed more than 75 reliability projects across our service area, strengthening the grid and reducing the risk of outages during severe weather. Through this work, upgrades to poles, wires and equipment are benefiting reliability directly. New poles and wires are designed to withstand 100 mile-per-hour winds, newly installed devices and reconfigured segments of line improve resiliency and, in some cases, relocated poles and wires are moved out of inaccessible areas making any restoration safer and quicker for our crews and customers.

And when winter weather hits, what’s the biggest cause of outages? Trees and branches. More specifically when they come into contact with power lines. To help prevent tree-related outages, we have a robust vegetation management program that helps to keep lines clear and safe.

Our crews trim trees and remove hazardous branches along thousands of miles of power lines every year. This proactive work helps prevent outages before they happen and keeps your power flowing — even when winter weather is at its worst. In fact, in 2026, we’re planning to clear vegetation along more than 4,750 miles of lines, to help reduce outages and improve reliability for thousands of customers in the process.

We’ve also continued to invest in Smart Grid technology that helps us respond faster when outages occur. The system can reroute power in real time, isolate problems and restore service to many customers in minutes without having to wait for a crew. It’s just one way we’re using innovation to keep you connected. This past August, our Smart Grid surpassed 3 million outages avoided, which equates to more than 650 million minutes of powering moments that matter for customers.

Thanks to these combined efforts, customers experienced nearly 25% fewer outages in 2025 compared to 2024. That’s progress. And it reflects how we’re continuously working as your partner in power, to keep your service strong and dependable every day, no matter what the weather throws at us.

Behind the scenes, our storm response teams monitor weather patterns, stage equipment and prepare crews to respond quickly when severe weather is on the way. We’re ready 24/7 because we know how much you depend on reliable electricity. For safety, warmth and peace of mind.

To learn more about what we’re doing every day to keep your service reliable, visit pplelectric.com/reliability.

What You Can Do

While we’re working hard to keep the lights on, it never hurts to make sure you’re safe and prepared too. Here are some simple, proactive things you can do to ensure that you and your family are ready for whatever winter may throw our way:

Create and practice an emergency plan with your family.
Keep an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries and essential supplies on hand.
Be sure to charge your devices before a storm hits.
Know how to report an outage using our new mobile app or on our website.

For more tips and resources, check out our emergency preparedness guide.

Learn How You Can Prepare

Crews working to restore outages caused by storms

Jun 27, 2024 | Storms and Outages

Severe storms brought damaging winds and lightning across our entire 29-county service territory late Wednesday afternoon into the evening. We have seen significant damage from downed trees and limbs that caused nearly 1,300 individual damage locations. Since the storm began more than 145,000 customers experienced a power outage.

Our crews continue to work around the clock as safely and quickly as possible to restore all customers. As of 3 p.m. (6/28), we have restored power to more than 137,500 customers and about 7,600 of our 1.5 million customers remain without power.

We have hundreds of personnel responding to the storm, providing both field-based and back-office emergency response operations across our service territory. This includes lineworkers, foresters, damage assessors and call center staff. In preparation for the storm, we brought in more than 600 workers from outside our company to assist in restoration efforts. Due to the extent of the damage, we have obtained additional crews, increasing that number to nearly 1,000. Due to the extent of the damage, this has been a multi-day restoration effort.

We have assigned estimated restoration times (ERTs) for areas in our territory. Because of the scope of repairs, full restoration could extend through Saturday afternoon for some customers, although many customers will have their power restored sooner. As crews are dispatched to specific jobs within a region, customers may receive an updated ERT.

Safety is a core value for us. Remember, should you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized and stay away. Report downed wires to PPL Electric or local emergency response agencies.

While we continue to our work, we encourage our customers to remain connected and stay safe with these tips:

Stay connected

Report power outages online at pplelectric.com or text “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775).
Sign up for alerts to stay connected and receive outage updates at pplelectric.com/alerts.
Check the status of an outage and estimated restoration times online at pplelectric.com/outage.
For information on storm safety, outage restoration priorities and more, visit pplelectric.com/outage

Stay safe:

Remember, should you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized and stay away. Report downed wires to PPL Electric or local emergency response agencies.
Never operate a portable generator in an enclosed area, like a garage, where deadly carbon-monoxide fumes could accumulate.
Always use flashlights instead of candles as they can start fires.
Turn off appliances that were on when the power went off.
Create alternate plans if you have a medical condition that relies on electricity or call 9-1-1 for assistance.
Check on elderly family members, neighbors and others who may need assistance during an outage period.
For your safety and ours, please keep a safe distance from our crews.

Ice and Water:

Customers who have been without power for 24 hours or more can purchase ice and water from any local vendor at their expense and send us receipts. Once received, we will credit those costs back to the customer’s account. Each customer can purchase a maximum of three 10-pound bags of ice and three gallons of water per day. Customers should mail their receipts and account number to:

PPL Electric Utilities
Attention: Ice and Water
827 Hausman Road
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104

Expired: Crews working to restore outages caused by storms

Jun 23, 2024 | Storms and Outages

PPL Electric Utilities crews are working to make repairs for customers who are without power due to the storms that occurred Saturday.

As of 9:00 a.m. Sunday (6/23), approximately 6,400 of our 1.5 million customers were without power.

Since the storms began Saturday (6/22), we have restored power to more than 33,000 customers.

Current predictions for pop-up storms Sunday may result in additional outages. Remember, if you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized, stay away and report it immediately.

If you lose power, report the outage online at pplelectric.com or text “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775).

Staying cool in the heat:

We understand it’s never easy to be without power, especially during times of high heat. We urge our customers to stay safe in extreme heat situations. Seek out cool places — shopping malls, libraries or public cooling centers — to avoid the heat. Also, drink plenty of fluids, stay informed, and check on elderly family members or neighbors.

Stay safe:

Please stay safe and keep the following safety tips in mind:

If you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized and stay away.
Candles can start fires. If you lose power, use flashlights instead.
If you lose power and are using a portable generator, never operate the generator in an enclosed area, like a garage, where deadly carbon monoxide fumes could accumulate.
We encourage customers who have medical conditions requiring electricity to make arrangements in case of an outage.
If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off.
For your safety and ours, please keep a safe distance from our crews.

Summer storms are on the horizon

May 30, 2024 | Storms and Outages

Summer is on the horizon, which often means severe weather, including thunder and lightning. But even with the best preparation, storms or lightning strikes may cause outages. We’re prepared to respond to any storms that hit our area this summer and always. And if outages occur, we’ll work around the clock as safely and quickly as possible to get your lights back on.

Watch this video to learn more about how we prepare.

We want you and your family to be prepared for storms as well.

Here are a few tips to stay safe during summer storms.

When thunder roars, go indoors!

Did you know: According to the National Weather Service, lightning strikes the United States about 25 million times per year?

If the sky looks threatening or you hear thunder, even in the distance, immediately seek shelter. The safest place during a thunder and lightning storm is in an enclosed permanent building or metal-topped vehicle with all doors and windows closed. Outdoor tents or gazebos will not keep you safe from a lightning strike.

Before a storm:

Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, medication, flashlights and pet supplies.
Charge your phones and devices.
Purchase power strips with lightning arrestors or surge protectors for your appliances and electronics.
Adjust your alert preferences to stay informed in case of an outage at pplelectric.com/alerts.

During a storm:

Stay away from utility poles and metal conductors.
Electric and plumbing equipment may carry lightning current. Avoid using any appliances or electronics plugged into an electrical outlet.
Don’t use water to wash dishes or take a shower.
Stay away from windows and doors.
Report an outage, or check the status of an outage, at pplelectric.com/outage.
And finally, remember to stay indoors for at least 30 minutes after thunder stops.

Source: lightningsafetycouncil.org

Are you prepared for storm season?

May 24, 2023 | Reliability, Storms and Outages

As summer approaches, so does the start of the summer storm season.

We want you to know we’re prepared to continue delivering safe and reliable service in all kinds of weather.

One way we keep the lights on during storms is through the investments we’ve made in our Smart Grid. If an outage occurs, our self-healing grid can sense the problem and automatically reroute power to restore as many customers as possible, almost instantly. This technology — along with replacing older equipment, upgrading to storm-resistant poles and wires and using data to proactively trim trees before they fall on wires — helps us reduce outages and respond quicker if an outage occurs.

We’ve also made it easier than ever to stay informed. You can customize your outage alerts to receive a phone call, text message or email with updates on repair crew status and estimated restoration times if you lose power. You can customize those alerts and also sign up for billing and payment alerts on our Alert Preferences page.

Even with the best preparation and information, storms and severe weather can cause damage and result in outages. We keep our outage map updated with real-time information on outage causes and estimated restoration times. If your power goes out, you can help us by reporting your outage in a few simple steps on our Outages and Issues page.

No matter what Mother Nature throws our way, we’ll be ready. And, our crews will be there to work as safely and quickly as possible to restore power if needed.

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