News Releases

PPL Electric Utilities customers set a new morning power peak record Monday (1/24) as frigid arctic air gripped the region.

Preliminary figures show the company delivered 7,432 megawatts for the hour ending at 8 a.m., eclipsing the previous morning peak mark of 7,163 megawatts set on Feb. 11, 2008. Today’s mark also is the highest system load since Feb. 5, 2007, when the company hit an all-time peak of 7,557 for the hour ending at 7 p.m.

Company officials don’t expect problems meeting demand and don’t believe a new all-time peak demand record will be set. Temperatures are expected to moderate during the rest of the week.

“Our transmission and delivery systems are performing well and there are no significant issues due to the cold and the resulting customer demand,” said Gregory N. Dudkin, senior vice president-Operations for PPL Electric Utilities. “That high level of reliability is due to attention to maintenance and to increasing investment in those systems.”

Dudkin said the company routinely performs system maintenance to be prepared for peak demand periods of summer and winter.

“At the same time, we’re committed to investing in the system so it’s there – safely and reliably – for our customers at the high levels they’ve come to expect,” he said. Over the next five years, PPL Electric Utilities expects to spend more than $3 billion in keeping reliability strong.

During extreme cold, consumers can take steps to reduce their electricity use. Making sure your home is adequately insulated, sealing air leaks, using a programmable thermostat and maintaining your heating equipment are all ways to save. Be sure to check your heater’s filter and change it if it’s dirty.

During the day, open blinds or shades and let the sun help warm your home. Remember to close them at night.

PPL Electric’s E-power programs provide many ways, and financial incentives, to help customers be more energy-efficient year round. To find out more, visit www.pplelectric.com/e-power.

Customers can track their electric use on an hourly, daily and monthly basis by using PPL Electric’s Energy Analyzer at www.pplelectric.com. Customers must have their accounts registered through myPPL.

PPL Electric Utilities also reminds customers to stay safe and to always follow safety instructions if using appliances such as space heaters.

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), provides electric delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania and has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. More information is available at www.pplelectric.com.

For further information: Joe Nixon, 610-774-5997, jcnixonjr@pplweb.com