When many in Schuylkill County begin thinking about turning on the air conditioners for the first time of the year, their electric bills will be going up.
PPL Electric announced recently that its residential and small business rates are going up on June 1. Its new Price to Compare for residential and small business customers will be going up 16% over the current rate.
In June, residential customers will pay 12.491¢/kWh and small business customers will pay 12.114¢/kWh.
PPL is blaming “ongoing regional energy market conditions” and “electric generation supply prices” for its need to increase rates on customers.
It says the retirement of older power-generating plants and a limited new generation supply in the PJM Interconnection region (which is made up of 13 states and the District of Columbia) are driving up electric generation supply costs.
PPL Electric can not own electric generation and must buy electricity for its customers through competitive auctions.
“While PPL Electric doesn’t generate electricity or control electric generation supply prices, we understand that our customers look to us for guidance and support,” Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities, says in a statement. “That’s why we’re committed to delivering safe, reliable service — and helping customers better understand their electric bill, reduce energy use and make informed decisions to manage their energy costs.”
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