Customers Can View Detailed Breakout of Costs

Bill Has New Look, But No New Charges

When PP&L, Inc. customers receive their electric bill this month, they will notice some big changes in the way the bill looks.

The new, easy-to-read format gives customers a detailed listing of the charges that make up their electric bill. By itemizing charges, PP&L, Inc. is helping its customers become more informed consumers in the era of electricity competition.

"These changes are a required part of the Electric Choice Program to help customers understand what they are paying for in their electric bill," explained John F. Sipics, PP&L, Inc. vice president for Delivery Services and Economic Development.

Although the bill will look different, it will not contain any new charges, he added. The itemized charges shown in the new bill format always have been part of the electric bill.

In fact, all PP&L, Inc. customers are benefiting from a price reduction for 1999. The reduction averages 4 percent. Customers who decide to choose a new electricity supplier could see total savings of more or less than 4 percent, depending on the price their supplier charges.

The most noticeable differences on the bill include the following:

• Most bills will be two pages in the new format. The first page contains a summary of charges; the second has an itemized listing of each component charge.
• All customers will be assigned a new 10-digit customer number.
• The popular electric use graph and meter reading information is once again on the front of the first page of the bill.

The new bill format "unbundles" electricity prices, and shows customers each of the component charges. Charges customers will see on the bill include:

• Generation Charge: The price for producing electricity.
• Transmission Charge: The price for transporting electricity from the power plant where it is produced to the local distribution wires of PP&L, Inc.
• Distribution Charge: The price for delivering electricity to a home or business.
• Competitive Transition Charge: A temporary charge to recover PP&L, Inc.'s transition costs, as approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Sipics said all PP&L, Inc. customers will receive bills in the new "unbundled" format, whether or not they choose a new electricity supplier in the Pennsylvania Electric Choice Program.

In addition, all customers will be assigned a new 10-digit customer number because of the company's new billing and records computer system. Customers can find their customer number in the upper-right corner of each page on their bill, and in the upper-left corner of the tear-off stub.

PP&L, Inc. is including a special insert with February bills that describes differences between the old and new electric bill format.

The change of PP&L, Inc.'s customer billing and records system may result in phone backlogs for customers who call the company's toll-free customer service number.

"The transition period will be difficult. Customers can expect delays in reaching our customer service representatives. But it will be a temporary situation. We are working to keep problems to a minimum and correct any that do occur quickly," Sipics said.

A graphic of the new bill format, highlighting the major differences, is available on the PP&L, Inc. Web site, www.ppl-inc.com