News Releases

Clearing trees that grow too close to power lines is essential to providing reliable electric service. PPL Electric Utilities proves that it can be done in an effective and environmentally sensitive way.

PPL Electric Utilities' approach to pruning trees and helping customers learn more about planting the right types of trees near power lines has earned it the Tree Line USA Utility designation for the second year in a row.

The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, selects Tree Line USA utilities based on tree- care programs, training for workers about tree-care practices and public education efforts.

"We spend millions of dollars each year pruning trees because it is one of the most effective ways to improve the reliability of electricity service for our customers," said John F. Sipics, president of PPL Electric Utilities.

"The challenge is to perform this essential job in a way that retains the benefits that trees bring to our communities. That's why we use scientifically accepted methods for pruning, we train our tree contractors regularly and we provide information to help people select tree species for their properties that won't grow into power lines," he added.

Tree care is one part of a comprehensive, predictive maintenance program that enables PPL Electric Utilities to provide award-winning, reliable service and manage its overall costs in a way that has kept electric rates essentially flat since the mid-1980s.

"Tree Line USA utilities protect trees and provide reliable electric service," said John Rosenow, National Arbor Day Foundation president. "Reforming the outdated practice of topping trees is a major objective of Tree Line USA. Natural pruning is better for the health of the trees."

About 100 investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives nationwide earned the Tree Line USA designation.

PPL Electric Utilities uses natural pruning, in which only the branches that grow toward power lines are removed. Remaining branches are left to grow naturally. Because there are fewer cuts, trees are not put under as much stress.

Using trained tree contractors who are qualified to work around live power lines, PPL Electric Utilities prunes trees along 4,000 miles of power lines each year.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) controls about 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.

SOURCE: PPL Electric Utilities Corporation

CONTACT: George Lewis, PPL Electric Utilities, +1-610-774-5997, Fax:
+1-610-774-5281

Web site: http://www.pplweb.com/