Starting July 1, Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. will require positive identification from new residential customers when they request electric service.

PP&L will verify the identity of new customers by checking the name and social security number they give. The verification takes seconds, and does not delay the process of applying for electric service.

Positively identifying new customers helps PP&L fight fraud and improve its ability to pursue and collect overdue bills, said Robert H. Ballard, PP&L's Revenue Collection manager.

"The vast majority of our customers are honest," he said. "But when customers use a false name or in some way misrepresent themselves, the risk increases that we will not be able to collect overdue bills from them, or trace them if they move without paying their final bill."

If the name and social security number given by a new customer do not match, PP&L will require the customer to apply for electric service in person. PP&L has set up walk-in centers throughout its service area.

The customer will need two forms of identification, including a photo ID, when applying for service in person. PP&L also gives applicants the option of providing a notarized statement.

PP&L generally will not check the identity of existing customers or customers with good credit history who move to a new address in the service area.

"With more accurate customer information, we hope to reduce the amount of overdue bills and decrease our costs -- actions which benefit all PP&L customers," Ballard said.

PP&L is owed more than $60 million in overdue or unpaid bills, including about $8.5 million in final bills left unpaid by customers after closing out accounts.