Press Release

PUC Approves Increase in Customer Assistance Allowance for PPL Customers Enrolled in OnTrack

Published on 1/14/2010

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a temporary increase in the customer assistance credits available for PPL customers participating in the company’s OnTrack program.

The Commission voted 5-0 to increase the maximum amount of customer assistance program (CAP) credits from $700 to $900 for residential non-heating customers and from $1,800 to $2,300 for residential heating customers. The change is for 2010 only.

PPL’s CAP is known as OnTrack, which is a special payment program for PPL low-income customers.  Because CAP bills are based on a customer’s ability to pay, the required payments by OnTrack customers did not change with the Dec. 31, 2009, expiration of PPL’s generation rate caps.

A credit is determined by subtracting the adjusted OnTrack bill from the actual bill. The increase to utility bills associated with the expiration of rate caps will increase the monthly difference between the actual bill and OnTrack bill, meaning many customers may exceed their annual limit of CAP credits. The Commission approved a 30 percent increase in the CAP credits in an effort to keep more families in the program longer.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. R-00072155

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• Press Secretary
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