Heating Up: PPL Electricity Rates Spike with the Temperature

Energy bills this summer just got a lot more expensive for Central and Eastern Pennsylvania residents serviced by PPL electric utilities. On June 1, 2025 a new rate increase of approximately 16% went into effect, driving up the cost of electricity bills for many homeowners and businesses. While these new rates were approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) that doesn’t mean they’re the best price available to PPL customers. Most residential customers can avoid the significant increase by shopping for an alternative supplier.

Before you determine which path is best for your household though, let’s break down the reasons for the increase in PPL rates and what the actual impact will be on your wallet. We’ll also dive into programs available to help if you’re facing challenges managing these new electricity costs.

Highlights

• Customers of PPL electric utilities saw electricity rates, specifically the “Price to Compare,” increase to $0.1249 /kWh starting on June 1, 2025. This 16% increase will lead to an estimated $25 monthly increase on the average monthly energy bill.
• This rate hike is caused primarily by a surge in capacity costs, which ensures appropriate power generation for peak electricity usage and demand.
• Pennsylvania residents can switch electricity providers to competitive energy suppliers in order to mitigate cost increases and save money. They can take advantage of tools like EnergyBot to shop for the best electricity plan and provider.

What does this mean for your bill?

For PPL customers who receive their power supply through the company’s Standard Service Offer (SSO), the Price to Compare (PTC) recently saw a significant increase. Electricity rates jumped from the 10.77¢ per kWh to the current rate of 12.49¢ per kWh and will remain their until the next rate schedule change at the end of November.

So what does this actually mean for your energy bills? In practice, this new rate will translate to an estimated $25 increase per bill for a typical residential customer using around 1000 kWh of electricity each month. While each customer is different and your actual bill increase will depend on the size of your home and your individual consumption, most customers will see a significant increase.

Historical Price to Compare: PPL

Why are PPL Price to Compare rates climbing?

A number of factors have contributed to the upcoming rate increase for PPL electric utilities. Most notably, increases in demand on the grid have created a surge in capacity costs. Capacity refers to the costs associated with ensuring there’s enough power generation available to meet the area’s electricity demands, especially during extreme weather. The capacity cost increase means a 10-20% increase in Pennsylvania residential electricity bills and up to a 29% increase for businesses starting in June 2025.

At the same time, the cost of natural gas has been volatile but steadily trending upwards– driving up prices for customers. Plus, PPL has also been making investments in upgrading and maintaining its transmission and distribution infrastructure to keep energy delivery safe. Since these investments are necessary to ensure reliability and safety of the electricity grid, their costs are unfortunately being passed through to the customers.

Pro Tip: These rate adjustments primarily affect the generation supply cost portion of your bill. Distribution and other service charges remain regulated utilities.

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How do PPL customers get help with their energy bills?

It’s no surprise that significant increases in electricity bills can create financial strain for many folks, especially as it’s getting hot out. To help, PPL, along with the state of Pennsylvania, offer several programs to assist customers in need.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that provides cash assistance to eligible low-income households to help pay for essential heating and cooling bills. Each state has different guidelines, but you can find more information on their resources here.

Customer Assistance Program (CAP)

PPL offers its own CAP program to provide eligible low-income customers with a reduced energy bill based on your income and energy use. Contact your PPL electric utilities directly to inquire about eligibility and enrollment.

Operation HELP

The HELP Program is administered by PPL to provide emergency energy assistance grants to customers facing temporary financial hardship. These grants are typically used to pay your PPL bill.

Pro Tip: To prevent disruptions in service, make sure that you act quickly in anticipation of any difficulties paying your energy bill. The sooner you can request assistance, the more likely you are to receive the necessary tools.

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Improve Your Energy Efficiency to Save

Taking steps to reduce your energy usage can help to offset the impact of PPL’s rate increases, while also improving your average monthly bill. To get started consider the following tips:

• Adjust your thermostat: Lowering you thermostat a few degrees in the winter and raising it a few degrees in the summer can significantly improve your heating and cooling costs. Consider investing in a programmable or smart thermostat to automate these adjustments.
• Switch to LED Lighting: LED bulbs are significantly more energy efficient than traditional incandescent or CFL bulbs, and they last much longer.
• Wash Clothes in Cold Water: Heating water accounts for a significant portion of the typical residential customer’s electricity bill. Switching to cold water washes can save you more money than you realize.

For more tips and tricks to reduce your overall energy usage, check out our blog: How to Reduce Your Energy Bill.

Compare Lower Rates: Secure a Fixed-Rate Today

Pennsylvania residents have a couple of options available to compare competitive electric rates and shop for a fixed-rate plan to avoid PPL’s Price to Compare fluctuations:

1. Utilize the PA Power Website

Operated by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, the PA Power Switch website offers a comprehensive marketplace with hundreds of competing energy offers. While this may provide a vast array of choices, it’s often overwhelming to navigate and find plans that fit your specific needs.

2. Simplify Your Search with EnergyBot

EnergyBot has helped thousands of customers just like you find the right electricity plan for their home or business. With over a thousand 5-star reviews, we’re committed to helping you find exactly what you need. Use our guided shopping flow to narrow down plans to those that fit your needs best– whether that’s the cheapest electricity rates, superior customer service, or green options.

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