August 2026 Residential Connect

SUMMER BILLS: WHAT'S DRIVING COSTS AND WAYS YOU CAN SAVE

The summer heat can be unbearable. But keeping your home cool and comfortable may be causing your electric bill to increase. With air conditioning, cooling equipment or dehumidifiers working overtime during extreme heat, it’s common to see spikes in your summer usage.

If your bill is higher this summer, it may be due to a combination of factors, including increased energy use during hot weather, changes in the price of electricity supply and the new distribution base rate that took effect July 1.

As your local electric company, we deliver electricity to your home, but we don’t own or operate the power plants where that electricity is generated. In Pennsylvania, you can shop for a third-party supplier based on price or other factors, or you’ll automatically pay the Price to Compare.

If you have a supplier, now is a good time to check the price you’re paying and use the Price to Compare as a benchmark. Many customers sign up with a supplier that initially offers a lower rate but lose track of contract terms or supplier notifications and end up shifting to a variable rate that is much higher than the Price to Compare.

In May, residential customers paying rates above the Price to Compare collectively paid about $7.2 million more than the default rate, while those paying below it saved approximately $2.3 million. These differences reflect the range of products and pricing options available in the competitive market.

With the cost of everyday essentials continuing to rise, every dollar counts. Taking a few minutes to review your options and regularly check the price you’re paying for supply can help you stay informed and avoid paying more than necessary.

5 WAYS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SUMMER BILL:

Track your energy use to stay informed. Even small energy-saving changes can make a big impact.
Review your supply price and compare offers from third-party suppliers at papowerswitch.com.
Sign up for PPL Alerts to receive Price to Compare notifications, bill due reminders and more.
Enroll in Budget Billing to even out the seasonal swings in your bill and make your monthly payments more predictable.
Check out our Bill Toolkit at pplelectric.com/toolkit for a comprehensive list of simple tools and support to help make your bill more affordable.

ASK DOUG, A PPL ELECTRIC ADVISOR

Question: With back-to-school season right around the corner, do you have any tips for staying safe around electricity?

Answer: We all worry about our children’s safety, whether they’re heading into elementary school or back to their dorms, so it’s only fitting that we keep electrical safety top of mind.

Classrooms and study spaces are filled with electronics. Here are a few tips that will help get the school year off to a safe start.

Charging electronics: Use approved chargers, avoid overloading outlets and unplug devices if cords become damaged or excessively hot.

Avoid extension cord hazards: Keep cords out of walkways, never run them under rugs and replace them when frayed, cracked or damaged.

If you see damaged electrical equipment, such as an outlet: Don’t touch it. Report the issue immediately to a teacher, parent or staff member so it can be inspected and repaired safely.

We wish all our students and educators a safe and successful start to the school year!

About your advisor: Doug is the Manager of Public Safety for PPL Electric Utilities. In addition to safety response efforts, Doug also travels throughout our 29-county territory teaching electrical safety to students, companies, contractors and first responders.,

100K DOWNLOADS

Thanks to our customers, our mobile app now has over 100,000 downloads! Join them today and download from your favorite app store.

TURN OLD APPLIANCES INTO ENERGY SAVINGS

Ready to recycle?

Refrigerator or freezer: $35 each.
Mini fridge, room A/C or dehumidifier: $15 each.

Additional rebates are available for efficient, new units.

Visit pplelectric.com/pickup to view eligibility and schedule a free pickup.

CARING FOR AN ELDERLY RELATIVE? WE CAN HELP.

Have you taken on the role of supporting aging parents or relatives? We know that can be tough. We have resources to help you manage their account, whether you’re near or far. Check out pplelectric.com/caregivers for more.