Last summer, electricity rates shot up in our region, largely because of the increasing cost of generating power to supply big AI and cryptocurrency data centers.
Now, electric utility PPL is seeking another electric bill increase on top of that. If it’s approved by the state Public Utility Commission (PUC), we’ll see our monthly bills go up by another $13. Between these two hikes, families will be paying hundreds of dollars more per year.
PPL may need resources for upgrades to the grid but what is especially disturbing is that part of the increase to our electric bills is intended to pay for increased returns to PPL shareholders. PPL wants to almost triple the payout rate to stockholders (from 3.9% to 11%) through increases to our electricity rates. PPL had profits of $886 million last year, so their shareholders are not going hungry.
To add insult to injury, while families’ and small businesses’ electric bills go up, PPL is proposing to cut rates for data centers. So, as wealthy data center owners suck up the electricity from the grid, increasing electric bills for all of us, PPL wants to give them an even bigger break that we must pay for, too.
The PUC needs to step up and protect consumers because if PPL is allowed to increase rates again, you can bet that other electric utilities will do the same.
Maggie Waggoner
12/14/2025