Extreme heat can be more than just uncomfortable — it can affect your health, increase your energy use and make it harder to stay cool at home. It’s also a time when the electric system is working harder to meet increased demand, and we know that’s when you rely on us most. That’s why we’re working behind the scenes to keep power flowing while helping you stay prepared.
As temperatures rise, air conditioners, fans and other cooling appliances work overtime to keep you comfortable. These devices often run longer and work harder during extreme heat, driving up electricity use across the region.
At the same time, extreme heat can pose real health risks. Health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), say air conditioning is one of the most effective ways to prevent heat-related illnesses. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, spending time in cooler places like shopping malls, libraries or community cooling centers can help you stay safe.
While at home, a few simple steps can help you stay comfortable and use energy wisely:
Block the sun: Close blinds and curtains during the day.
Limit indoor heat: Avoid using ovens, dryers and dishwashers at times of peak heat.
Fans cool people, not rooms: Run ceiling and portable fans only in occupied rooms.
Staying safe during extreme heat is just as important as staying comfortable:
Drink fluids often.
Wear light, breathable clothing.
Take breaks in cool spaces.
Check on neighbors and loved ones.
If you feel dizziness, nausea or unusual fatigue, take it seriously, find ways to cool down right away or seek medical attention.
What we’re doing to keep your power reliable
While you’re focused on staying cool, we’re focused on keeping your power reliable. Extreme heat and higher electricity use can put added stress on equipment, which is why we prepare year-round. Our teams replace aging equipment, trim trees and install advanced technology like Smart Grid devices to strengthen the system.
During heat waves, we closely monitor the grid and use real-time data to spot and address issues early. And, if an outage occurs, our crews are ready around the clock to respond safely and restore service as quickly as possible.
We’re here with you
Extreme heat can be dangerous, but you don’t have to face it alone. By taking a few simple steps, you can stay safe, manage your energy use and look out for those around you.
We’re committed to strengthening the system and supporting our customers when it matters most — so you can feel confident knowing we’ve got your back when temperatures rise.
Summer is around the corner and for many families, that means higher energy use as temperatures climb—especially in July and August. The good news? A few small, practical steps you take now can help your home stay cooler and keep energy costs more manageable during the warmer months ahead.
We’ve pulled together a few quick, weekend-friendly moves that can help you stay in control of your comfort, energy use and budget. They’re simple, realistic and designed to help you prepare for the months ahead—when summer heat and energy use are at their highest.
Before hotter weather causes your A/C to work harder, these small steps can make a meaningful difference. Now is the best time to get started.
Start small. Feel the difference.
You don’t need a big renovation or a big budget to make an impact. These quick projects fit into a free afternoon or a weekend and help your home work smarter when the summer heat is on. Got some free time Saturday? Take our short survey to discover easy ways to keep your home’s energy costs more manageable all summer—and all year long.
Looking for another weekend-ready DIY project? Here’s one of our favorites. Leaky ducts can reduce cooling system efficiency by as much as 20%. Seal accessible ducts with these four simple steps:
Turn off your HVAC system before starting any work.
Use foil tape (not duct tape) to seal gaps along straight duct seams.
Apply duct sealant (a thick water-based paste used to seal HVAC ductwork) with a paintbrush where elbow joints connect to straight sections.
Cut fiberglass insulation to fit around ducts, then wrap and secure it with foil tape.
Discover more energy-saving tools, tips and programs at SaveWithPPL.com. Because when it comes to summer energy use, you don’t have to do everything—just the right things. And we’re right here to help you save.
More than 500 students across the region put their creativity to work in this year’s Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest and the Think! Energy Innovation Challenge, presented by PPL Electric Utilities. From colorful posters to inventive project submissions, students shared practical ways their communities can conserve energy and protect the environment.
Participants in both contests were students whose classes took part in hands‑on energy efficiency presentations. This year’s poster themes included recycling, reducing wasted electricity, choosing efficient lighting, the benefits of solar power, and simple everyday actions families can take at home.
Young creators from K–8 lead the way
Students in kindergarten through 8th grade submitted hundreds of posters to the Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest. The artwork highlighted students’ understanding of sustainability while also capturing their enthusiasm for conservation.
Grand prize winners earned a $100 gift card, a $100 teacher grant, and a classroom pizza or ice cream party. Honorable mention recipients received a $25 gift card and a class celebration as well.
This year’s teachers emphasized the lasting impact of sustainability education.
“My students and I would like to thank you for not only honoring us with a great celebration, but also inspiring them to make a difference in the world through energy conservation,” said Stacey Bottley, 2nd grade teacher at Drums Elementary. “Your program makes a difference in the choices they make. It provides them with the knowledge and opportunities to think first about their everyday actions.”
High‑school students innovate for the future
The Think! Energy Innovation Challenge invited 9th–12th grade students to create videos or artwork promoting water and energy efficiency. Teams of up to four students participated, and judges selected both grand prize and honorable mention winners. Each winning team member received wireless headphones.
PPL Electric Utilities celebrates the 2026 winners
PPL Electric Utilities is proud to continue supporting classrooms, teachers, and student innovators through these annual contests. Find the full list of winners below and enjoy their artwork here.
Poster contest pizza party at Drums Elementary School. Poster contest honorable mention (Julian) from Moscow Elementary School. Innovation Challenge honorable mentions (Jordan, Ari and Skylar) from Souderton Area High School. Innovation Challenge grand prize winners (Stella and Addisyn) from Susquenita High School.
Grades K–2
Grand Prize: Kaleesi (Ms. Stacey Bottley; Drums Elementary School)
When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, the first step doesn’t have to be complicated.
For many customers, a no‑cost Virtual Home Energy Assessment, paired with personalized insights from the Energy Analyzer, is the easiest and most effective way to get started. A trained energy advisor can look at the energy use in your home and suggest the best savings for you—maybe it’s an old fridge that needs to be recycled or electronic devices that need a smart power strip.
During a Virtual Assessment, our advisor reviews your home’s energy use, shows you where your dollars are going and provides practical, data-backed recommendations tailored to your household. With expert guidance and easy-to-use tools, you might uncover issues you didn’t know existed—and start to save right away.
Hear from a few other homeowners about their experiences.
“I followed up with a good portion of your assessment and my bill is almost half of what it was last July. I think the basement foam sealing and heat pump water heater were big factors.”
—Deborah
“I had the pleasure of talking with Jari today on a Virtual Home Energy Assessment call. I can’t imagine you get any negative feedback because he listened well and was helpful in his suggestions. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I’m thankful for his service.”
—Aren
“Jari systematically walked me through the various aspects of our energy usage and how to better manage the heat pump for optimization. He asked pertinent questions regarding our energy-related behaviors and gave logical and practical recommendations that we will immediately act on. He pointed out the availability of data on the website that we can use to monitor our progress. I was very happy with this session.”
—Andrea
“Michael was not only knowledgeable regarding any topic we brought up, but he was kind, thorough and shared information and deadlines we didn’t know about. It was a truly pleasurable experience and, though I’m sure he treats all his calls equally, we felt taken care of and that Michael went above and beyond any expectations we had.”
—Gretchen
Stories like these show why a Virtual Assessment is such a smart place to start: It’s simple, personalized and gives you a clear picture of your home’s energy use. You’ll learn about available rebates and incentives—and get a free energy-saving kit shipped right to your door.
Ready to get started with your own Virtual Assessment?
You work hard for every dollar. We’re here to help you make it go further. Our Bill Toolkit brings together simple ways to manage your bill, set up payment plans that fit real life, access assistance and start saving energy right away.
Explore the Bill Toolkit to see all the ways we can help.
As the winter chill sets in, keeping your home warm and comfortable is top of mind. If you rely on electric heat, it may drive up your winter electric use. Proper maintenance and smart energy management can help you stay cozy and keep your winter heating use in check.
Make the most of your heating system with the tips and information below.
13 cold-weather savings tips
Baseboard heating tips:
Keep baseboard heaters clean. Regularly dusting and vacuuming the coils of your electric baseboard heaters can improve their efficiency. Dirty heaters require more energy to generate heat.
Avoid blocking the flow of warm air. Since electric baseboard heaters use convection and natural air currents to heat your space, it’s especially important to make sure that furniture, drapes and carpets are at least one foot away from them.
Verify that your thermostat is functioning correctly. A faulty thermostat can lead to inaccurate temperature readings and inefficient heating.
For older baseboard heating, consider upgrading to newer, energy-efficient heating systems, such as ductless heat pumps. They’re designed to provide better performance while using less electricity.
Tips for heat pumps:
Set your thermostat to remain at a constant temperature, and limit any adjustments to 3°F or less so your heat pump doesn’t run inefficiently to catch up. The DOE recommends setting HVAC systems to 68°F in the winter, or lower while you’re asleep or away.
Use “heat” mode for your heat pump’s temperature setting (instead of “auto”). Then set the heat pump fan on “auto.”
If you have a backup heating system, set your heat pump higher and the backup system lower so that the heat pump is doing most of the work. If your backup system is the only source of heating in places like your basement, be sure it’s set high enough so that pipes won’t freeze.
General energy efficiency:
Check for leaks and seal drafty areas of your home with weatherstripping or caulk. You can place draft stoppers at the bottom of doors to minimize heat loss.
Use your ceiling fans to move warm air around a room, allowing you to turn down your thermostat a few degrees and save energy.
Kitchen and bath exhaust fans can pull in cold air from the outside. Try to limit their use to no more than 20 minutes.
If your heating system uses ducts, be sure that the air-intake vents and all other vents are free of dust.
Keep an eye on your energy usage patterns. They can help you identify performance issues with your heating system or habits you may wish to adjust.
