News Releases

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (March 9, 2026) – As part of PPL Electric Utilities’ multi-year reliability improvement strategy, the company will implement more than 55 large-scale grid strengthening projects, expand its industry-leading Smart Grid and complete thousands of miles of proactive tree trimming across its 29-county service territory in 2026. These efforts are part of the company’s broader, multi-year strategy to modernize the electric grid. Between 2026 and 2029, PPL Electric will invest more than $8 billion in infrastructure improvements to enhance reliability and support regional growth.  

“Reliability is the foundation of everything we do for our customers. The investments we’re planning for 2026 are essential to strengthening and modernizing our electric grid so it can better withstand increasingly severe weather, reduce outages and restore power faster when issues do occur,” said PPL Electric Utilities President Christine Martin. “With nearly 47,000 miles of distribution lines and equipment aging across our system, these upgrades aren’t optional — they’re necessary to keep our communities safe, powered and prepared for the future. At the same time, load growth and rapid economic development mean we must also expand our transmission system to ensure we can reliably serve the region for decades to come.” 

These investments are carefully planned and intertwined with strategies that balance reliability improvements with long-term affordability for customers. Planned upgrades will strengthen the distribution system, reduce outages and improve restoration times for customers across the company’s Pennsylvania service area. Similar infrastructure investments by PPL Electric — combined with vegetation management work and Smart Grid enhancements — helped drive a nearly 25% reduction in outages in 2025 compared to 2024.

In 2026, PPL Electric’s projected large-scale reliability project benefits include:

• Expanding and upgrading Smart Grid devices to detect and restore power in real time.
• Replacing aging underground cables to prevent service interruptions.
• Relocating and adding new underground power line segments to improve resiliency and reduce risks associated with continued severe weather.
• Replacing hundreds of miles of overhead poles and wires with stronger materials designed to withstand more extreme conditions, including 100 mile-per-hour winds.

Vegetation management also remains a priority. PPL Electric plans to clear hazardous trees and branches along more than 4,750 miles of power lines in 2026 to reduce tree-related outages, which are the leading cause of service interruptions during storms.

“By expanding our Smart Grid technology, strengthening infrastructure and proactively managing vegetation, we’re building a more resilient grid that delivers real value to customers,” said Martin. “These investments not only help prevent outages, but ensure homes, businesses and critical services across our region can count on electricity being there when it matters most.”

For more information on PPL Electric’s reliability initiatives, visit pplelectric.com/reliability.

About PPL Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable and affordable electricity to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It regularly ranks among the country’s best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction. PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer and an active supporter of the communities it serves. It is a part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies. Visit pplelectric.com or connect on social media via Facebook, X and Instagram for energy efficiency tips, bill help information, guidance on shopping for an electricity supplier, storm updates and more.