PPL Electric Utilities says 2017 was its best-ever year for grid reliability

PPL Electric Utilities recently announced that 2017 was its best year yet for grid reliability.

“We’re always looking to make our grid better. That work never stops,” Stephanie Raymond, PPL’s vice president of distribution operations, said. “Our business revolves around serving our customers and powering our communities. It’s a responsibility we relish.”

PPL customers experienced a total of 550,000 fewer interruptions in 2017 than in 2007, the company said. PPL is among the top 11 percent of utilities in the United States in terms of the lowest average number of outages per customer.

PPL attributed the reliability improvements in part to increased installation of smart grid technology, using data analytics to improve equipment maintenance and replacement processes, improving protection against damage from lightning strikes, and making sure vegetation clearing along power lines continues, which reduced tree-related outages.

“Electricity plays a part in nearly every aspect of our lives. We know people depend on us,” Raymond said. “Making the power grid more and more reliable is just one way we can deliver.”