Step 1: Create an emergency kit.
Consider what your family would need to remain comfortable for an emergency lasting at least 72 hours and create a kit that’s easily accessible. Include the following items:

• A first aid kit
• Medication and prescriptions
• Flashlights
• Batteries and portable chargers for your electronics, like cell phones or tablets
• One gallon of water per person per day
• Enough non-perishable food to last three days
• Manual can opener
• Toiletry items
• Pet food and supplies

Store your emergency kit in a cool, dry place. And make sure all family members know where to find it.

Step 2: Create an emergency plan.

• Develop and document an evacuation plan for family members and potential visitors who may get caught in the middle of an emergency.
• Know where to stay depending on the type of storm. If there’s a thunderstorm, heavy rain, or snow, stay indoors. For hurricanes or tornadoes, head to your basement or seek a local shelter.
• Know who to contact. Create a support network and a communication plan to stay informed. Include a list of emergency contacts, like family members, neighbors and doctors.

If you don’t have an emergency plan, there’s no better time than now to create one. And don’t worry, every September we’ll remind you to evaluate your plan based on your family’s changing needs. For more safety tips, check out pplelectric.com/safety or follow us on social media. Stay prepared and stay safe!

Ask Meg

Q: I’m an elementary school teacher heading back to in-person learning this year. I heard about STEM grants for educators through the PPL Foundation. How can I apply? 

A: Teachers have one of the most difficult jobs, so first I must say thank you for your work educating young minds! You’re referring to Empowering Educators grants through the PPL Foundation. We’re donating $1,000 each to 50 teachers within our territory to fund innovative, hands-on learning in STEM (Science, Technology, 
Engineering and Math) subjects. All K-12 teachers are eligible and can apply online at pplweb.com. Just click Communities and then Empowering Educators Grants. The deadline is September 30. Apply today!

 

WRAP your home in energy savings 

To date, we’ve helped more than 100,000 families save energy and money with our WRAP program. We want all eligible customers to receive the energy products and services they need to run a more energy-efficient household. Why? Because it saves you money and helps the environment. That’s a win for everyone! 

Through WRAP, you may receive free LED bulbs, low-flow showerheads or other energy saving products. You’ll also be assigned an energy coach to help evaluate opportunities for energy efficiency and give you tips to save.  

Check out the income guidelines and apply for WRAP at pplelectric.com/wrap.

 

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Scammers. 

We deliver your electricity, but in Pennsylvania you can shop around for the supplier that’s right for you.

Most suppliers market their services appropriately, but some use fraudulent tactics, like going door-to-door, misrepresenting themselves as PPL or offering too-good-to-be-true deals. These are scams designed to trick you out of your hard-earned money. 

Don’t be fooled! Here are some tips to identify and slam the door on scammers:

• Scammers will generally pressure you to act fast. Don’t let pressure tactics push you to give up personal information or make a decision on the spot. 
• If someone knocks on your door, claims to be from PPL and asks for money or for you to sign a contract, don’t do it. We never solicit services or demand payments door-to-door. Tell them you don’t have time to talk and that you’ll be calling us later to discuss. 
• Remember, if something doesn’t seem right when talking to a door-to-door salesperson, or something seems too good to be true, it likely is. 
• Spread the word. If a scammer tries to target you, they may also try to target others in your community. Let neighbors know they should keep an eye out for scammers. 

One more thing: If you do decide to switch suppliers, make sure you know which questions to ask so you can protect yourself and avoid unexpected costs. What is the length of the agreement? Is there an automatic renewal? Are there cancellation, change or penalty fees? Is this an introductory rate? What is the price after the introductory period? 

For more tips to protect yourself from scams, visit pplelectric.com/scams. For more on shopping for electricity, visit pplelectric.com/shopsmart.

 

Ready for action

Did you know that during major storms, we often host crews from other utilities that travel to Pennsylvania to lend a hand? It’s called mutual assistance. And when other areas are hit by large storms, we send crews to help as well.

It’s important that we stay prepared so we’re ready when the next major storm hits. That’s why we host routine emergency drills throughout the year.

Last month, we held a demonstration at one of our service centers. The demonstration assessed our ability to house and feed mutual assistance crews that come from other states during major storms. The effort helped us gain valuable insight to continually improve our plans. Next time we need to activate our mutual assistance protocols, we’ll be ready to go.