PPL Electric Utilities customers set a new summer monthly power use record in July as heat and humidity gripped Pennsylvania, including the company's service territory in the central and eastern parts of the state.
The company delivered 3,812,274 megawatt-hours (MWH) of power last month, eclipsing the previous record, set in July 2006, by 100 MWH. According to the National Weather Service, last month was the second hottest July on record for Philadelphia. Allentown had 15 days that hit 90 degrees or more, tying it for the seventh most 90-plus degree days on record in any month.
"Temperature extremes put a lot of stress on the electric delivery system. We experienced very few problems in July due to the heat and system demand, proving the value of both our ongoing maintenance and capital improvement plans," said PPL Electric Utilities president David G. DeCampli. "Severe thunderstorms, and even tornadoes, did hit some areas of our service territory in July, and we brought all available resources to bear to get those affected back in service as soon as possible."
DeCampli said that over the next decade, PPL Electric Utilities plans to invest about $2 billion in new and improved transmission and distribution equipment, and enhanced maintenance, to ensure it can continue to safely and reliably serve its customers.
He said the company's E-power programs, designed to provide customers with tools, information and incentives to use energy more efficiently -- and save them money -- were factors in keeping the July mark from edging even higher. "Our experience shows our customers are responding well to the E-power programs and becoming more educated electricity consumers," he said.
PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation, provides electric delivery service to 1.4 million customers in 29 counties of eastern and central Pennsylvania and has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States.
