Community Corner
PPL Program can Help you Save on Your Utility Bill
Signing up for special plan and timing your electricity usage can qualify you for lower rates.
True or false?
Restricting electricity usage primarily to the evening hours can lower energy bills.
True AND false! Rumor has it that this is true. However, after doing a little research, the fact of the matter is that electricity consumers must first REGISTER for a PPL program to receive these savings on their monthly bill.
Find out what's happening in Upper Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Shelly, a customer service representative at PPL Electric Utilities was kind enough to explain the program called “Residential Time-of-Use (TOU) Option.”
When you register for this program, you can save money by shifting electricity use away from peak hours when the prices are usually highest.
Find out what's happening in Upper Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Starting on June 1, “summer hours” begin. This lasts through September. If you’re a current PPL customer, simply call the PPL customer service number (800-342-5775) or visit the PPL Web site atwww.pplelectric.com to register for the FREE program.
According to a note from PPL:
“Time-of-Use Option has two seasons, and each season has its own set of peak hours and generation charges. Summer peak hours extend from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays June 1 through September 30.
Non-summer peak hours extend from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays October 1 through May 31.
All other hours, including weekends, are considered off-peak. Also, off-peak are the following holidays: New Years’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Non-summer TOU prices for January 1 through May 31, 2011 are 7.6 cents per kilowatt-hour during peak hours and 6.1 cents per kilowatt-hour during all other hours.
Summer prices from June 1 through September 30 are 10.2 cents per kilowatt-hour during peak hours and 6.9 cents per kilowatt-hour during non-peak hours."
What does this mean? Turn off the A/C, dishwasher, T.V., electric dryer and other energy-sucking appliances during the summer afternoons. Go to the pool instead!
Also contrary to popular belief, turning off the A/C altogether does not save money in the long-run. Instead, keep your temperatures set a little higher while you’re away and lower them when you’re at home. Keep air conditioning units out of the direct sun and fill gaps around the windows.
Saving electricity doesn’t just save money, its saves the environment.
