The best power outage is the one you never experience.

PPL Electric Utilities’ industry-leading Smart Grid technology has now prevented more than 3 million power outages for customers on the distribution grid since 2015. That equates to more than 650 million minutes of powering moments that matter for customers.

“This milestone reflects how technology and innovation are transforming the electric grid for the better,” said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. “Our Smart Grid isn’t just wires and switches — it’s peace of mind for our customers. With every outage prevented, we’re proving the power of innovation to enhance daily life — keeping families connected, businesses productive and communities resilient.”

The Smart Grid uses advanced technology to reroute power around trouble spots when they occur. If a tree falls on a wire or a transformer fails, the system intelligently locates the issue and identifies alternate pathways to get electric service restored to as many customers as possible, often in just a few minutes.

This automatic response keeps the impact of trouble spots confined, keeping customers’ lights on, even when a problem arises.

And while the Smart Grid has been making a difference for PPL Electric customers since 2015, its capabilities have continued to evolve.

Over the past several years, PPL has invested in making the system even more intelligent — enhancing its automation capabilities, improving communication between devices and enabling faster, more precise restoration.

This work is taking Smart Grid automation to the next level, allowing the network to identify and respond to issues and assist more customers than ever before in real time.

From integrating advanced sensors and high-speed data analytics to deploying more intelligent switching devices across its service territory, PPL is not just maintaining its Smart Grid; it’s actively expanding it to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s electric grid.

The Smart Grid is part of the broader, long-term investments PPL is making to strengthen the electric grid across eastern and central Pennsylvania. In addition to automation, the utility is replacing aging infrastructure, installing more storm-resistant poles and wires, trimming trees and using predictive technology to prevent equipment failures.

These efforts are part of PPL Electric Utilities’ commitment to keeping the lights on and service as reliable as possible.