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PPL Service Territory

PPL distributes electricity to 1.4 million customers in some or all of these central and eastern Pennsylvania counties:

PPL serves these cities:

• Allentown
• Harrisburg
• Lancaster
• Scranton
• Wilkes-Barre

How to Start New PPL Service

Starting PPL service for your home is both easy and convenient. Just visit the PPL web site to start, stop, or move your home's electric service.

Customers can also set up service by calling PPL customer service (1-800-342-5775).

PPL will do a soft credit check to determine if a deposit is required. Be ready to supply:

• Personal Information: You will need to provide your Social Security Number or driver's license information or other valid, non-expired ID.
• Service Address: The address where you want your service turned on or switched.
• The start date for electricity service.

Usually, PPL needs 5 business days notice in advance of your start date. However, in some cases, they can provide same-day service. Call customer service to request.

Will I Need to Pay a Deposit?

Credit Rating -- PPL has the right to check your credit history and level of credit risk to determine whether a security deposit is necessary. Other factors include whether the customer was previously disconnected or has unpaid energy bills.

TIP -- Be sure to unfreeze your credit. If you have frozen your credit with any of the major credit agencies, you will need to have it temporarily unfrozen before you submit a new service request.

Pay a Deposit -- Within 3 business days, PPL must notify you in writing about their specific reasons requiring you to pay a security deposit.

PA State Laws About Utility Deposits

• Deposits cannot be greater than an estimated two months usage.
• Customers have 21 days to make a payment after the utilty sends them the deposit request notification. However, customers have three months to pay the full deposit.
• PPL can hold the deposit for 24 months. If the customer pays their bill in full and on time for 12 consecutive months, the deposit will earn interest.
• Customers have the right to use a guarantor who is a credit-worthy customer with PPL and can pay your bills if you fail to do so.

Understand PPL Delivery and Supply Charges

In Pennsylvania, residential customers pay for both the cost to deliver their electricity as well as for the amount of electricity supply that they use.

• Delivery Charges are fixed rate charges (tariffs) representing the cost of transmitting electricity to your home via PPL's power lines. The charges cover the PPL local infrastructure operating costs, maintenance, and ensures them a profit. Other usage-based charges are small costs from riders to fund projects, cover fees, etc. PPL's delivery charges must be approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PAPUC). All PPL customers pay the same set Delivery rates no matter who supplies their energy.
• Supply Charges represent the price for the amount of electricity that you use. PPL customers can choose the "Price to Compare" (PTC) for their electricity supply. However, because of Pennsylvania's Energy Choice program, customers are free to also choose energy from competitive retail electricity suppliers.

Understand PPL PTC Charges

When deregulation began in Pennsylvania, all utilities that wanted to participate in consumer choice had to sell off their generators. However, the PAPUC requires these utilities to provide electricity supply at a default rate to customers in their service territory who don't shop for a retail supplier. As a result, these utilities must purchase their electricity supply for the default rate from generator companies.

The PAPUC oversees PPL's default service rates. PPL's supply rate represents generation supply costs that are passed without mark up directly through the utility onto their customers. This default supply rate is also called the "Price to Compare" or PTC.

Price to Compare (PTC)

The PTC default rate represents the actual price (generation + transmission) the utility pays for the electricity. In other words, it not only includes the generator company's price for making the electricity but also the cost to transmit it from power stations over high tension power lines to PPL's local electrical switch yards. From there, the electricity is distributed throughout the PPL local electrical grid for delivery to homes.

In Pennsylvania, PPL sets its PTC rates by holding auctions to line up their electricity supplies. Currently, auctions are held twice a year. Consequently, PPL's PTC rates change every every June 1 and Dececember 1. When the auctions are completed, the PAPUC must approve the prices for both the generation supply and transmission.

For customers, it means these electricity rates can vary seasonally; low some months, higher during others -- especially during the summer.

PPL Current PTC Residential Rate:

10.040 cents per kWh, expires 12/31/2024

NOTE: There are approximately thirty-five borough-owned public power systems in Pennsylvania. These purchase energy for their local residents. Many prohibit residents from shopping for their own provider. If you live in one of these communities, check with your local government to learn more.

How Much Do PPL PTC Charges Cost?

The DOE EIA estimates that the average Pennsylvania residence uses an average of 864 kWh each month. Therefore, an average PTC bill roughly breaks down like this:

Understand Pennsylvania Energy Choice

Pennsylvania electric consumers are free to choose their own competitive retail electricity supplier. These alternative suppliers shop deals with different producers on the wholesale market to offer competitive rates. For that reason, their rates are not controlled by PAPUC the same way that utilities are. This lets retail suppliers to offer competitively priced fixed rate plans for a variety of term lengths.

Though it can seem confusing, shopping electricity plans is an easy process. The trick is finding the one that meets your needs. That's why retail energy suppliers in Pennsylvania offer two types of plans:

• Fixed Rate Plans have their price rate set for the same price over the term of the contract. Customers can count on stable energy rates on plans lasting from 6 to 36 months. However, many fixed rate plans come with early cancellation fees for breaking a contract early.
• Variable Rate Plans Don't want to be tied to an electricity plan contract for months or years? Then choose a variable plan. Variable plan rates can change from month to month depending on the price of the electricity supply. That means there's nothing to prevent your rate from going up one month or down the next. However, these plans don't have a contract or any termination fees and this allows customers the flexibility to shop for new rates and switch to better deals without paying any penalty.

PPL Coupons, Energy Promotions, Discounts, Rebates and Promo Codes

As your local electric utility, PPL offers several rebate and energy efficiency programs to help customers reduce their monthly bill by upgrading their home's energy performance. Some programs also offer money-saving incentives while others could make paying your monthly bills much easier during those expensive winter months.

Read PPL Reviews

Because PPL serves a large east-coast regional market segment, central and eastern Pennsylvania customers can get a better picture of how good a job it does by comparing it to similar large-scale utilities. While PPL is not accredited with the BBB, it is the top-ranked eastern utility for the tenth consecutive year in J.D. Power's 2021 utility residential customer satisfaction study. The utility also rated well in Escalent's 2021 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Residential study

How Do I Get the Cheapest PPL Rate?

Shopping for a new PPL Customer Choice Plan can seem daunting at first. But, once you understand how it works, it's very easy and straightforward. To begin, you should have these three things with you when you shop for electricity.

1. Your current bill. Your past usage per billing period can help you estimate a how much a plan might cost you each month.
2. The current PPL PTC and expiration date. Knowing the current PPL supply price lets you compare rates offered by retail energy suppliers. This way, you can get a better feel for what suppliers are offering, for how long, and if any of their incentives make their price work for your family's need.
3. Your PPL of Pennsylvania customer account number. This 10 digit number is located on your bill. Having it handy lets you sign up with a retail supplier right away.

Bill Questions? Electricity Out? Contact PPL!

Having problems or interruptions with your PPL electricity? Here's the proper people to call.

PPL Billing Problems

• First thing to do is contact PPL. If you are having trouble paying your monthly bill call PPL's Customer Service: 1-800-342-5775. Have your account number ready.
• Need extra time to pay your energy bill? You can apply for a Due Date Extension by calling PPL Customer Service or by applying on-line.
• You can change your bill due date! Once every 12 months, customers can change their electric bill due date. Be patient because it takes 2 billing cycles go into effect.

The PAPUC requires all PA public utilities to offer Budget Billing. PPL Budget Billing takes your annual electricity costs and averages them out over the cost of the year. This ensures that customers aren't presented with unexpectedly high bills at peak times.

PPL Emergencies and Outages

All power lines are extremely dangerous! Never attempt to move a downed power line by yourself. Call 911 and then notifiy PPL.

• Report safety hazards involving power lines immediately to PPL at 1-800-342-5775.
• You can also report downed lines or outages at PPL's website.
• Check PPL's current electric outages as they are being repaired.

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