PUC Sets Hearings for PPL Rate Increase, Including One in Catasauqua

Nov. 18, 2025

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has set hearing dates for consideration of PPL Corp.’s proposed rate increase, with one hearing scheduled for Catasauqua.

The PUC plans four in-person hearings and two by telephone as it reviews PPL Electric Utilities’ request for an increase.

From the PUC: “The changes proposed by PPL would produce an overall annual revenue increase of $356.3 million (33.4%).  As proposed, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 918 kWh per month would increase from $177.01 to $189.40 (7%).”

So based on the PUC, the average residential customer’s bill would go up $12.39. Any increase would not go into effect until next year.

The Lehigh Valley hearing will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Catasauqua Municipal Building, 90 Bridge St. in Catasauqua.

Other hearings will be held in Scranton, Lancaster and Harrisburg. Registration is advised for the telephone hearings, with details for all hearings below in the PUC press release.

PPL Electric Utilities is part of PPL Corp. Shares of PPL (NYSE:PPL) traded at $36.66 at 11:27 a.m. today, giving the company a market capitalization of $27.1 billion.

Here’s a link to the PUC statement and below is a cut-and-paste version. There is some useful advice on testifying at public hearings. Anybody can do it, but the PUC’s recommendations are helpful.

— Disclosure: I own shares in PPL Corp.

Public Input Hearings Scheduled for Proposed Rate Change by PPL Electric Utilities

Published on 11/18/2025

Filed under: Electric

PUC Holding Four In-Person Hearings and Two Telephonic Hearings in December to Gather Public Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has scheduled four in-person hearings and two telephonic hearings in December to gather public input on the proposed rate change by PPL Electric Utilities Corporation (PPL).

On Oct. 23, 2025, the Commission voted 5-0 to suspend and investigate the proposed change. PPL provides service to nearly 1.5 million customers in 29 counties in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Christopher P. Pell and Administrative Law Judge Barbara Shadie Nause will preside over the public input hearings.

In-Person Public Input Hearings

In-person public input hearings will be held at the following locations and times:

• Monday, December 8, 2025 – Hearing starts at 6 p.m.

        Scranton University
        Brennan Hall – Rose Room, 5^th Floor
        320 Madison Avenue
        Scranton, PA 18510

• Tuesday, December 9, 2025 – Hearing starts at 6 p.m.

        Catasauqua Municipal Building
        Borough Hall
        90 Bridge Street
        Catasauqua, PA 18032

• Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – Hearing starts at 6 p.m.

       Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
       Keystone Building, Hearing Room #1
       400 North Street
       Harrisburg, PA 17120

• Thursday, December 11, 2025 – Hearing starts at 6 p.m.

        Manheim Township Public Library
        Morgan Center
        595 Granite Run Drive
        Lancaster, PA 17601

Telephonic Public Input Hearings

Two telephonic hearings will be held at the following times:

• Monday, December 15, 2025 

Telephonic hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
Telephonic hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.

Participating in the Telephonic Input Hearings

The call-in information for the two telephonic hearings is as follows:

            Toll-free Conference Number: 866-421-8851

PIN Number: 66640466

To participate in a telephonic public input hearing, please complete the following:

• You must dial the toll-free Conference number above.
• You must enter the PIN number above when instructed.
• You must speak your name when prompted, and press #.
• Then, the telephone system will connect you to the hearing.

NOTE: Individuals wishing to testify at a telephonic public input hearing are encouraged to pre-register by 4 p.m. on December 11, 2025. Failure to pre-register could result in you not being called to testify by the PUC Judges.

To pre-register, please call Legal Assistant Pamela McNeal at 215-560-4228 or email at pmcneal@pa.gov and provide the following information:

• Your first and last name.
• The hearing for which you are registering.
• The phone number you will be using to call into the public input hearing.
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if needed.
• Your email address, if you have one.

If you need assistance pre-registering to testify, you may have someone register for you, but they will need to provide the PUC Judges with all the information listed above. Additionally, if more than one person in your household would like to testify, one person may pre-register for other individuals in the same household by providing the PUC Judges’ Legal Assistant with the information for each individual planning to testify.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible.  If you register too close to the hearing date, we may not have enough time to arrange for an interpreter.  If you request an interpreter, we will make every reasonable effort to have one present. 

The TTY-based Telecommunications Relay Service number for persons who are deaf or hearing-impaired is 711.

If you intend to offer any documents or exhibits at the public input hearing, you must email one (1) copy to Legal Assistant Pamela McNeal at pmcneal@pa.gov.  The PUC Judge will forward your exhibits to all the parties.

Exhibits for any in-person public input hearing must be received by the Legal Assistant by: Friday, December 5, 2025, by noon. Exhibits for the telephonic public input hearings must be received by the Legal Assistant by Friday, December 12, 2025, by noon.

Individuals needing assistance with pre-registration, or having questions about the public input hearing or the company’s application, may contact the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate toll free at 1-800-684-6560 or by email at consumer@paoca.org.

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

Proposed PPL Rate Changes

The changes proposed by PPL would produce an overall annual revenue increase of $356.3 million (33.4%).  As proposed, the total monthly bill for a residential customer using 918 kWh per month would increase from $177.01 to $189.40 (7%).

A final PUC decision on PPL’s rate increase request is due by July 1, 2026.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.