PPL Electric service territory
PPL pledged $6.8 billion through 2028 to expand and modernize its Pennsylvania transmission grid for data centers, part of a $23 billion company-wide plan for 2026 to 2029, and its first base rate increase in about a decade took effect July 1, 2026.
July 15, 2025: PPL pledges $6.8 billion through 2028 for Pennsylvania grid capacity and transmission, with about 3,400 jobs. September 30, 2025: PPL Electric files its first base rate case in about 10 years, asking for about $356 million a year. February 20, 2026: PPL raises its company-wide capital plan to $23 billion for 2026 to 2029 and reports 25.2 gigawatts of advanced data center demand. March 5, 2026: A non-unanimous settlement in principle is reached. April 21, 2026: PPL holds an open house on the Archbald Mountain Project. June 11, 2026: The commission approves the $275 million settlement; rates take effect July 1. August 7, 2026: PPL reports 31.8 gigawatts in advanced planning. August 27, 2026: The commission rules on a reconsideration petition. October 19, 2026: Aspen Power Partners files a notice of appeal.
Update, October 26, 2026. On September 14, 2026 PPL Electric proposed a Customer Protection Transmission Rider that would let it assign certain transmission upgrade costs tied to its largest customers, the LP-6 class that includes data centers, to that class. On September 24, 2026 the U.S. Department of Energy selected PPL Electric for up to $71.5 million to rebuild about 29.3 miles of an existing 230 kilovolt line.
Update, October 26, 2026. On October 2, 2026 the Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate filed a formal complaint against PPL Electric at the Public Utility Commission, saying its rates make existing customers pay costs caused by large data centers and expose them to reliability risks, and on October 15 Gov. Josh Shapiro petitioned to intervene in the case.
PPL Electric's distribution rates went up about $275 million a year on July 1, 2026, after a request for about $356 million that would have raised total revenue about 8.6 percent. The settlement bars another base rate increase for two years.
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionThe rate settlement added a new tariff schedule for large load customers, including data centers, and PPL's 10-Q says the new rate class provides $11 million in support for PPL Electric's residential low-income program. The settlement also expands low-income usage reduction funding and waives reconnection fees for low-income customers starting July 1, 2027.
U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionPPL's proposed Archbald Mountain Project would add new transmission lines, switchyards and a substation in Lackawanna County to power data centers in the Archbald area. PPL proposed three routes in April 2026 and estimated completion in 2029 or early 2030, pending PUC approval.
WVIA NewsSen. McCormick's office says PPL's $6.8 billion grid investment through 2028 is expected to create 3,400 new jobs in Pennsylvania. PPL hasn't broken down how many are construction jobs.
Office of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormickTactics: Turning out at public meetings in matching shirts
Many residents wore yellow "Stop Archbald Data Center" shirts to PPL's April 21, 2026 open house on the Archbald Mountain transmission project, according to WVIA.
Tactics: Joint comments to the Public Utility Commission
Joined Earthjustice's joint comments in the PUC's large load model tariff proceeding, where most environmental groups backed the 50 megawatt threshold over PPL's push for exceptions or 200 megawatts.
PPL Electric asked for about $356 million a year, or about 8.6 percent more total revenue, with an 11.3 percent return on equity. The settlement allows about $275 million a year, creates a large-load customer rate class that provides $11 million for the low-income program, and bars another base rate increase for two years.
PPL Electric Utilities; Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement; Office of Consumer Advocate; Office of Small Business Advocate; CAUSE-PA; PP&L Industrial Customer Alliance; Walmart; federal executive agencies; Environmental Intervenors; Joint Solar Advocates; Customer-Generator Coalition and Professional Dairy Managers of PA (objecting) · Settlement approved June 11, 2026; rates effective July 1, 2026; reconsideration order August 27, 2026; notice of appeal filed October 19, 2026Aspen Power Partners, a member of the Customer-Generator Coalition, filed a notice of appeal after the commission's orders in the rate case.
Aspen Power Partners LLC; PPL Electric Utilities · FiledStatewide large load model tariff for customers over 50 megawatts. PPL argued for exceptions or a 200 megawatt threshold and raised concerns about federal jurisdiction over transmission costs.
Pennsylvania electric distribution companies including PPL and FirstEnergy; Office of Consumer Advocate; environmental groups · Final order adopted April 30, 2026The complaint says PPL's rates, including its LP-6 large-load class, make existing customers pay costs caused by large data centers and expose them to outage risks, and asks the commission to require new data center rate classes, interruptible rates, and rules making data centers pay for transmission upgrades and PJM reliability program costs they cause.
Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate v. PPL Electric Utilities Corporation; petitions to intervene by CAUSE-PA and Gov. Josh Shapiro · Active. Prehearing conference notice posted October 20, 2026; PPL received an extension of time; the Consumer Advocate has said it will file an amended complaint.In Pennsylvania, the local zoning ordinance sets the route. A conditional use is decided by the elected governing body (supervisors, commissioners or council). A special exception or variance, and an appeal of a zoning officer’s decision, go to the Zoning Hearing Board. Each is a public hearing on a record: affected neighbors can ask for party status, cross-examine witnesses, and appeal. Municipalities can also adopt data center ordinances with enforceable standards.
Know your rights →Organized community opposition is the single most effective check on these projects in Pennsylvania. Show up to hearings, submit comment when it is taken, support legal and expert-witness costs, and press your municipality for a real ordinance. Pennsylvania municipalities cannot simply freeze applications, but a curative amendment under the Planning Code gives them a defined window to fix a defective ordinance.
How communities push back →