PPL Electric utilities will place an extra $1 million in its hardship fund to help customers as part of a modified settlement regarding company-caused billing errors that plagued hundreds of Lehigh Valley residents and more systemwide.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved revisions Thursday to an earlier $17 million settlement with Allentown’s PPL that includes the setting aside of money for low-income consumers. The $1 million will nearly double PPL’s “Operation Help” fund to help income-eligible families and senior citizens who struggle with paying their electric bills, according to Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss.
“From the very beginning, the PUC showed our commitment to impacted customers by launching an investigation,” Zerfuss said in a news release.
Under the proposed settlement the PUC announced in Novembe r, PPL agreed to pay a $1 million fine and another $16.2 million in costs to settle complaints over the billing matter, which began in late 2022 and extended into last spring.