Install before the change, or wait?
A June 2026 settlement is moving new PPL residential solar off full retail export credits and onto lower market-price credits. That makes timing a real decision.
Install before implementation
Systems interconnected before the change are grandfathered at retail-equivalent export credits for 10 years, through the end of 2036. That locks in the more valuable netting for a decade.
Install after
New systems earn export credits based on the hourly market price of energy, which is well below full retail. Solar can still make sense, but the value leans more toward power you use directly than power you export, so sizing and a battery matter more.
How PPL rates rose 33 percent
PPL Electric Utilities's average residential electricity price has risen from 14.01 cents per kWh in 2015 to 18.6 cents in 2025, an increase of about 33 percent, or roughly 2.9 percent per year. The chart shows PPL's average residential price by year. Hover any point for the exact figure.
Current residential rates
PPL residential rates are shown below, from the utility's published tariffs and the public Utility Rate Database. Rates vary by plan, season, and usage and change over time.
| Plan | Energy charge | Fixed / basic |
|---|---|---|
| Residential default service (Price to Compare) plus delivery (Rate RS) | Default supply Price to Compare about 13.15 cents/kWh (generation, resets every six months) plus distribution about 4.33 cents/kWh, plus a transmission service charge | $17.94/month customer charge |
Pennsylvania is deregulated: PPL always provides delivery, while generation is either PPL's default Price to Compare or a competitive supplier. The all-in default residential price is the Price to Compare plus distribution, transmission, and riders. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved a distribution rate increase effective July 1, 2026, PPL's first since 2016, so confirm current per-kWh delivery and the customer charge against PPL's tariff before making decisions.
The 2026 net metering change
Pennsylvania rules require PPL to offer net metering to residential solar up to 50 kW, and historically exports were credited one for one at the full retail rate. Under a settlement approved June 4, 2026, PPL moves new residential solar to export credits based on the hourly market price of energy, well below full retail, phasing in during 2026. Systems interconnected before implementation are grandfathered at retail-equivalent credits for 10 years, through the end of 2036. Confirm the exact implementation date against PPL's tariff.
Why timing matters for PPL solar
PPL's rates have been volatile, dipping through 2020, spiking to about 19.5 cents in 2023 on high supply prices, then easing and rising again toward 19 cents, up about 33 percent since 2015.
The bigger change is net metering. Under a June 2026 settlement, new PPL residential solar moves from full retail export credits to credits based on the hourly market price of energy, phasing in during 2026. Systems interconnected before the change keep retail-equivalent credits for 10 years. That makes the timing of an installation unusually important here. Whether solar pencils out depends on your usage and roof, so get a site-specific quote.
What rising PPL rates could cost you
PPL rates have risen about 2.9% per year. Enter your bill to see what that pace of increase could compound to over time, and what you have likely already absorbed. This is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Estimate only. Projects your current bill forward at PPL's historical average rate increase (2.9% per year, from EIA data); it assumes your usage stays the same except for any add-ons you select. Actual rates depend on your usage, rate plan, and the utility's future filings, and are not guaranteed. This is general information, not financial advice.
PPL service area
PPL serves Central and eastern Pennsylvania across about 29 counties, including the Lehigh Valley (Allentown and Bethlehem), Lancaster, Harrisburg, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport..
To confirm whether a specific address is served by PPL, check your electricity bill. A ZIP lookup tool is coming to this site.
Full data and sources
Per-utility prices are computed from EIA Form 861 (bundled residential revenue divided by sales), which reconciles to the EIA's published figures. These are public-domain U.S. government data.
| Year | PPL (c/kWh) |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 14.01 |
| 2016 | 12.94 |
| 2017 | 13.47 |
| 2018 | 13.5 |
| 2019 | 13.36 |
| 2020 | 13.18 |
| 2021 | 13.59 |
| 2022 | 16.86 |
| 2023 | 19.55 |
| 2024 | 16.99 |
| 2025 | 18.6 |
Sources: EIA Form 861, Sales to Ultimate Customers (2015 to 2024) · PPL Electric, Price to Compare and shopping · PPL Electric, Rate RS tariff · Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PPL rate decision (June 2026)
FAQ
How much have PPL electricity rates gone up?
PPL's average full-service residential price rose from about 14 cents per kWh in 2015 to about 19 cents in 2025, an increase of roughly 33 percent, per EIA Form 861 data. The series is volatile, spiking to about 19.5 cents in 2023 on high supply prices.
Is PPL changing net metering?
Yes. Under a settlement approved June 4, 2026, new PPL residential solar moves from full retail export credits to credits based on the hourly market price of energy, well below full retail, phasing in during 2026. Systems interconnected before the change are grandfathered at retail-equivalent credits for 10 years, through the end of 2036.
Should I install PPL solar before the change?
If you install and interconnect before the change takes effect, you are grandfathered at the more valuable retail-equivalent export credits for 10 years. After the change, exports earn the lower market price. Confirm the exact implementation date against PPL's tariff before deciding.
Is solar worth it with PPL?
Rising rates help, and installing before the net metering change locks in more valuable export credits for a decade. After the change, the economics favor power you use directly. Get a site-specific quote rather than a general estimate.