Reliability starts before the storm
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.
