Apr 17, 2025 | Community Involvement, Energy Efficiency
Over 500 students participated in the annual Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest and 27 participated in the Think! Energy Innovation Challenge, presented by PPL Electric Utilities. Students designed posters and other creative projects to illustrate practical ideas for energy efficiency and sustainability.
Contest submissions came from students whose classes participated in energy efficiency presentations and hands-on activities. Topics and bright ideas from this year’s poster entries included recycling, efficient lighting, using solar power, turning off appliances when not in use and more.
Budding artists from kindergarten through 8th grade took part in the Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest. Along with highlighting environmental awareness, the artwork also earned accolades for several participants. Grand prize winners received a $100 gift card, plus a $100 grant for the teacher and a pizza or ice cream party for the class. Honorable mentions received a $25 gift card and a pizza or ice cream party.
The Think! Energy Innovation Challenge encouraged 9th through 12th grade students to create compelling video and artwork showcasing their ideas for water and energy efficiency. Teams of up to four students submitted their work, with the grand prize and honorable mention recipients each receiving wireless headphones.
Teachers emphasized the importance of sustainability education following this year’s event.
“Thank you to PPL Electric Utilities for offering this opportunity to my students,” said Ms. Nikki Giannaras from Hanover Elementary School. “They were very excited about the contest. A big congratulations to my student, Evy, on winning the Grand Prize!”
“The energy program was perfect to jump-start our class lessons on conservation and energy,” said Ms. Justine Taylor from Conestoga Christian School. “My students were excited to participate in the poster contest and were blessed to be awarded with a party when one of my students won an honorable mention. Thank you, PPL Electric Utilities, for all you do for our community!”
“I am beyond excited to share that one of my students, Cayden, was selected for an honorable mention in the PPL Electric Utilities contest!” said Ms. Nicole Szarka from Willow Lane Elementary School. “We had such an amazing time during the presentation, where my students and I learned so much about the energy industry, sustainability and how we can all make a difference. The hands-on experience and engaging activities during the visit truly inspired my students… It’s moments like these that remind me how much potential each of my students has to achieve great things.”
PPL Electric Utilities is proud to host the Bright Ideas Energy Efficiency Student Poster Contest and Innovation Challenge. Find the full list of winners below and enjoy their artwork here.
Looking for ways to find energy savings at home? Explore our getting started guide.
Poster contest pizza party at Drums Elementary School.
Poster contest honorable mention (Jacob) from Blue Mountain Elementary School.
Innovation Challenge grand prize winners (Solenne and Serafima) from Lancaster Catholic High School.
Innovation Challenge honorable mentions (Logan, Elani and Shelby) from Donegal High School.
Grades K – 2nd
Grand Prize: Liam (Ms. Melissa McGee; Drums Elementary School)
Honorable Mentions: Cayden (Ms. Nicole Szarka; Willow Lane Elementary School), Samantha (Mc. Jaclyn Tumolo; Lincoln Elementary School)
Grades 3rd – 5th
Grand Prize: Evelyn (Ms. Nikki Giannaras; Hanover Elementary School)
Honorable Mention: Jacob (Ms. Amanda Deal; Blue Mountain East Elementary School), Lila (Ms. Justine Taylor; Conestoga Christian School)
Grades 6th – 8th
Grand Prize: Lyla (Mr. Joshua Abrams; Springhouse Middle School)
Grades 9th – 12th (Innovation Challenge)
Grand Prize: Solenne and Serafima (Ms. Anne Bleistine; Lancaster Catholic High School)
Honorable Mention: Aidyn and Mitch (Mr. Mark Nebzydoski; Western Wayne High School), Logan, Elani and Shelby (Mr. Matthew Deller and Mr. Robert Swisher; Donegal High School)
Mar 4, 2025 | Safety and Security
This National Consumer Protection Week, we want to help you stay informed and protect yourself from common scams targeting utility customers.
Scammers are constantly finding new ways to deceive, often through threatening phone calls, fake websites, fraudulent emails, and even by impersonating our employees. Remember, we’ll never demand immediate payment or ask for sensitive information over the phone or in person.
Common scams and how to protect yourself
We want to help you keep your information safe and stop scammers in their tracks. Being vigilant, staying informed and guarding your personal information are your best defenses.
📱 Phone scams
Threats of disconnection
- What happens: Scammers posing as utility representatives may call and threaten immediate service disconnection if you don’t make an immediate payment, often demanding payment via prepaid debit card.
- How to protect yourself: We will never demand immediate payment over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up and go directly to pplelectric.com or call us at 1-800-342-5775 to check your account status. Never provide personal information to unexpected callers.
Spoofed caller ID
- What happens: Scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it appear as though we’re calling you. They may impersonate customer service and demand payment or ask for your personal information.
- How to protect yourself: Hang up and call us directly at 1-800-342-5775. Never rely solely on the number displayed on caller ID.
📧Email and text (SMS) scams
Phishing and fake links
- What happens: Scammers may send emails or texts claiming your bill is past due, with links leading to fake payment pages designed to steal your personal data.
- How to protect yourself: Never click links or download attachments from unexpected emails or texts. Always go directly to pplelectric.com to access your account securely.
👷 In-person scams
Impersonators at your door
- What happens: Scammers may pose as PPL Electric employees, claiming they need access to your meter or demanding immediate payment.
- How to protect yourself: Always ask for a photo ID. PPL Electric employees will have an official ID badge and will never demand payment in person. For added security, contact us at 1-800-342-5775 to confirm an employee’s identity.
⚠️ Know the signs of scams
- Slow down: Take your time. Scammers pressure you to act fast.
- Verify: Scammers call from what may look like our phone number or come to your door with what appears to be an employee badge. Call 1-800-342-5775 to verify it’s really us.
- Stop: We never demand immediate payment, and we do not accept cryptocurrency, prepaid cards or third-party payment apps.
- Look out for suspicious emails: Watch for typos, unrecognized email addresses and strange links.
- Be careful with links: Fake websites can appear in search results. Always access pplelectric.com directly rather than through a search engine, ad or third-party link.
If you suspect a scam
- Stop and think: Scammers use urgency to push you into a quick decision. Take a moment to assess the situation.
- Contact authorities: Report the incident to your local police department or the FTC.
- Report to us: Call 1-800-342-5775 to report the scam attempt.
- Spread the word: Sharing your experience may help protect others in your community.
Stay vigilant and stay informed
We’re committed to protecting our customers and work closely with law enforcement to address scam threats. Visit pplelectric.com/scams for more information, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X for the latest scam alerts and updates.
- Remember, we will never: Demand immediate payment through phone, email, or in person.
- Request personal financial information, such as credit/debit card or checking account numbers.
- Require payment using prepaid cards, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers via third-party payment apps.
- Threaten to shut off your service unless immediate payment is made.
More information please visit pplelectric.com/scams
Mar 3, 2025 | Environment
We have a longstanding commitment to handling our business in ways that preserve and promote a clean, safe and healthy environment for all, including our wildlife.
A group of our feathered friends will be finding this out in March. A family of ospreys will soon be returning to their nest from a warm trip down south, but they’ll be returning to a new location.
Our teams in Cumberland County are working on upgrading a stretch of transmission lines along Rossmoyne Road and Interstate 76 in Mechanicsburg. Wooden poles like the one seen below are being replaced with the more reliable metal structures that surround it. This will increase reliability for customers in the Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland and West Shore areas.
The ospreys’ nest once sat on that wooden pole in the picture above. But in order to replace the pole, the nest had to be moved.
Thanks to a conscious construction and environmental team, the ospreys are being given a safer home just feet away from their original dwelling.
In early February, crews removed the osprey nest from the wooden utility pole but made sure to keep the nest intact. Meanwhile, the team ordered a 55-foot platform that was put up across the road from the power lines at the end of the month. The osprey nest is now perched on top of this platform, giving the birds a higher, 360-degree view of their habitat – and the ongoing reliability project – below.
“Ospreys use the same nest every year,” said Tom Eby, a senior environmental pro at PPL Electric overseeing the project. “When they come back to this area, they’ll notice that their nest has moved, but they’ll also notice that it isn’t far away. We’ve done projects like this in the past and we’ve seen strong results.”
Ospreys were once listed as an endangered species, and the population reached as low as a singular nest in Pennsylvania. Thanks to many efforts to reintroduce the species to the area, the population has now rebounded. Our team has partnered with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and others over the years to construct more than a dozen platforms like this.
Providing good nesting areas away from our power lines is not just good for our wildlife, it is also good for our customers’ reliability. This project is an example of the work we do year-round to build a stronger, more resilient grid.
“Increased reliability for our customers is always the goal, but building a platform for these majestic birds is icing on the cake for us,” Eby said.
The three-year transmission project is almost finished; the ospreys’ old home was perched on one of the last-standing wooden poles. The job is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. While we work, we know our eyes in the sky will be watching closely.
Nov 26, 2024 | Community Involvement
Central and eastern Pennsylvania are special places. We’ve felt that way for over 100 years because of our communities and the people who live here. And the holidays are an annual reminder of family and community, as we rally around each other with the hope of bringing warmth, joy – and food – to all.
But not everyone is able to fill their homes with the food they need. That’s why we and our employees are teaming up with local organizations to help make sure nobody goes hungry this holiday season.
We are joining abc27 News and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank in Harrisburg for the annual Feed a Local Family campaign, which aims to increase charitable donations to the food bank. Joe Arthur, CEO of the food bank, says that it is currently in a “hunger crisis,” serving more families and individuals in need than at the height of the pandemic.
“We’re fighting hunger all year long,” Arthur said. “But during the holiday season, we also want to make sure families in need have the great holiday foods that we all enjoy.”
Arthur and Soni Dimond, a reporter from abc27, recently stopped by our West Shore Service Center in Mechanicsburg. We recorded a few TV segments and also gave a donation to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Our employees all chipped in to donate a total of 544 pounds of food.
“It’s fantastic to partner with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank,” said Kelly Palmer, regional affairs director at PPL Electric Utilities. “Our partnership dates back several decades. They’re going to be able to get food on families’ tables who really need it.”
Even if you aren’t able to donate right now, the food bank is always accepting donations to feed its more than 250,000 monthly visitors. These donations can be food, but money can also be donated to purchase food.
“The best advice I have for people this time of year really is to give back to the community,” Palmer said. “This time of year tends to bring out the best in people. That’s what community is really about at the end of the day – doing the right thing and coming together to give back.
Click the link here to donate to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Nov 11, 2024 | Community Involvement, Diversity/Equity/Inclusion
Every Veterans Day, we honor all who have served in the military. Veterans at PPL Electric Utilities can join our PPLVets business resource group, which holds veteran-led meetings and events throughout the year. Through the PPL Foundation, we’re also proud to support organizations throughout our 29-county service territory that assist veterans.
The I’M ABLE Foundation is one of these organizations. The foundation is based in Wyomissing and is a recent recipient of a Powering Equity grant. I’M ABLE builds on its mission to remove obstacles for people with challenges, providing them with access to programs and equipment tailored to their needs.
In addition to providing free adaptive and inclusive group fitness programs for children, I’M ABLE also provides free fitness and mentorship opportunities for veterans though its Operation Lead from the Front program.
“The I’M ABLE Foundation is a place where people can come and get active – people of all abilities,” said Brian Sutherland, director of development for the I’M ABLE Foundation.
The foundation hosts classes at its gym twice a week and also takes part in events on select weekends. While the childrens’ and veterans’ fitness classes bring in different audiences, veterans have the opportunity to take part in mentoring and helping children in the foundation’s I’M FIT classes.
Jason Kish is a military veteran who has become a mentor for two children in the I’M FIT class.
“It just makes my life more enriched, just to get away from my normal day-to-day routine,” Kish said. “This is something that’s just hard to describe – how rewarding it is.”
A photo of Kish (left) and Josh (right) during one of the program’s I’M FIT classes.
Since I’M ABLE began hosting classes, attendance has jumped from an average of five participants to 40 per class. Sutherland says that this jump is thanks to donors like the PPL Foundation that make this programming free.
“You guys giving back to the community and making this possible for people of all abilities – it makes a difference,” he said. “All these kids can come together and just be celebrated for who they are and what they can do.”
“The work that they are doing to advance inclusivity in our community is so important,” said Kelly Palmer, PPL Electric Utilities regional affairs director. “It’s really meeting a community need, and it’s exactly the type of program we would want to fund through the Powering Equity grant. We are proud to support the I’M ABLE Foundation, and we are proud to support our veterans.”
