There are more than 10,000 solar systems installed within our service area. With solar panels becoming more and more affordable, we know this is just the start.
In fact, the pace of new systems installed so far this year is already ahead of last year. And that’s a good thing!
Why? Because our grid is ready for more customers to produce power when the sun shines and the wind blows. Our grid is designed to help us effectively manage the flow of that new energy. Best of all, we’ve made it easy for you to apply to install systems that make power from the sun, or wind. Most applications get approval within a day.
Today’s power grid is vastly different than even a generation ago. We understand the importance of embracing the changing energy landscape which is shifting from a model that has existed since Thomas Edison.
Today, power is flowing in two directions — traditional power generation traveling to homes and businesses over transmission and distribution grids and power coming back onto the grid from end points like rooftop solar or wind turbines. By effectively managing that power flow we can help avoid more costly alternatives, like building new power lines or substations. That helps keep rates reasonable.
Considering installing solar or wind power where you live? Our state-of-the-art grid is ready to welcome you. We know you depend on us – and we deliver.
Visit our renewable energy page for the latest information.
Combine innovation with smart investment and good things happen.
In our case, a comprehensive installation of smart grid technology over recent years has allowed us to prevent more than 1.3 million customer outages since 2015. That’s a major milestone and one we believe can’t be equaled by any other electric utility in the country.
What is smart grid? It’s a combination of state-of-the-art automated sensors and switches, coupled with an advanced software system, that acts instantly to reroute power around a trouble location and reduce the outage footprint to the smallest possible area. Our lineworkers then respond to make the necessary repairs.
A million is a huge number, but what does it mean? We estimate that customers have avoided a total of 100 million minutes in the dark since 2015. That’s 190 years of time!
This achievement demonstrates how we’re using technology, innovation, and data to deliver more for you, our customers. It’s how we reliably power your home, business, and community each day. That’s peace of mind and value for your energy dollar.
We’re going to keep imagining, keep innovating and keep making our grid stronger, smarter, and more reliable and resilient. Here’s to the next million!
The world is changing fast and the electric power grid is no exception.
For the longest time, power flowed just one way: from the power plants, across transmission lines, to substations and finally through distribution lines to homes and businesses.
Now, with more renewable energy like solar and wind, that power is starting to flow both ways, with renewable power coming onto the grid.
Renewable energy is right for our customers, community and world. That’s why we’ve invested in the future to make sure the power grid is ready.
Our network of transmission lines (#2 below) plays an important role in supporting renewables. Just like our highway system, transmission is responsible for moving electricity quickly and safely over long distances.
A cleaner energy future requires moving electricity to cities and other areas that need it. Transmission is critical in transporting renewable energy from where it is produced – often in remote, rural areas – to where it’s needed.
The sun doesn’t always shine, and wind doesn’t always blow. New technologies are needed on the transmission system to keep electricity flowing whenever power is needed.
We’ve taken steps to modernize and upgrade the transmission system to help prevent outages for customers, safeguard against cyber and physical attacks, and to support adding more renewables to the grid.
Sensors automatically identify problems on the grid, so power can be remotely rerouted to where it is needed, isolating the problem and quickly restoring power to customers.
We’re doing other things like using data analytics to signal when a piece of equipment needs to be replaced and identifying damaged or diseased trees– before they cause a power outage.
Preserving our transmission system is increasingly important to a safe and reliable power grid. With our innovation and advanced technology, we’ll be prepared.
We’ve never been afraid to experiment with new technology or implement innovative ideas if it means more reliable service for our customers.
So as soon as battery technology became more advanced, our engineers were excited to launch a program within the PPL territory, specifically along a line in the Harrisburg region that experienced outages in the past.
These batteries, connected to the grid, will instantly kick-in when customers are out of power and can keep the lights on for 6 hours or more!
The Harrisburg battery project is the first of its kind on the PPL grid and we’re already looking into other regions that would benefit from this technology.
This innovative solution is a huge plus for power quality and reliability for our customers. And batteries are just the start of ensuring a safer, more reliable and resilient grid.
Ever see a line of silver towers in a rural field? Or, maybe steel poles lining the road? Those are transmission lines, and you likely don’t give them much thought as you pass by in your car.
But those transmission lines are crucial to most everything you do at home and work. They’re the backbone of our electric grid.
In fact, the transmission system is becoming even more important with the increased use of renewable energy, like solar and wind. Transmission lines are needed to get the new cleaner power from where it’s generated to the population centers that will be using it. A strong transmission grid also helps keep electricity reliable.
At PPL Electric Utilities, we take reliability seriously. Beginning in 2013, we used data to make focused upgrades and get ahead of potential future problems. We started building new lines and substations, replacing aging equipment and changing out wooden poles with stronger steel poles. We’re also adding more lightning protection and using new technology to help shorten outages.
The results for our customers are big.
From 2013-2019, we’ve reduced transmission outages by 79 percent and we’ve cut outages caused from lightning by 77 percent. Our transmission system is more resistant to most severe storms and we’re better equipped to handle potential cyber or physical attacks against our grid.
So, the next time you drive by a transmission line, take comfort knowing that we’re always working to provide you with sustainable, affordable and reliable electricity, now and into the future.
