PPL Electric Utilities, which provides electricity to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania, said Tuesday that it has filed a request with state regulators to raise customer rates to help the company upgrade the electric grid.
“Over the past decade, we’ve deployed advanced technologies to operate more efficiently, invested responsibly in the grid, and expanded assistance programs to support those who need help paying their energy bills,” said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. “This commitment to efficiency has meant that PPL Electric Utilities’ base distribution rates have not changed in the last 10 years, and, as a result, our customers have among the lowest distribution rates in the state.”
Pending regulatory approval, the requested change would add about $13 a month, or 43 cents a day, for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a month.
For a typical commercial customer using 1,000 kWh and 3 KW per month, the increase would be about $8 per month, while a typical industrial customer using 150,000 kWh and 500 KW per month would see an increase of roughly $514 per month, the utility said.
If approved, PPL expects new rates to become effective July 1, 2026.
Martin said that to continue providing customers with safe and reliable electric service, PPL must make important investments in the system.
“With nearly 47,000 miles of distribution lines, one million poles, hundreds of substations, and thousands of pieces of equipment, costs are rising to maintain and upgrade these essential services,” she said. “We’re requesting a rate adjustment to support these necessary improvements and help ensure power stays on, especially as severe weather becomes more common.”
Specifically, PPL’s proposal seeks increased funding to further strengthen and modernize the electric grid to better withstand severe weather events, minimize outages, and protect against cyber threats and will include tree trimming and installing stronger poles and wire and equipment guards.
Additionally, the request seeks an increase to continue implementing next-generation smart grid technologies, such as advanced automation to accelerate restoration times and reduce outages, and data analytics to inform smarter business decisions that deliver the greatest value for customers, said the company.
PPL said it also wants to improve customer service systems and expand self-service options to offer more convenience and flexibility for customers, and reduce call wait times.
“In recent years, we have faced record-breaking storms in frequency and intensity,” said Martin. “Thanks to our investments in a more resilient electric grid — like stronger infrastructure, enhanced vegetation management and advanced automation — our customers are experiencing fewer outages. We’re proud to have prevented more than half a million power outages so far this year, but we know our work is not done.
“These necessary investments are vital to power the lives and communities we serve, and we’re committed to keeping the lights on, continuing to operate as efficiently as possible and finding better ways to serve our customers every day,” Martin said.
PPL’s rate request includes a proposed distribution base rate revenue increase of approximately $356 million, which would increase the company’s total annual revenue by about 8.6 percent.