Customers of PPL Electric Utilities set a record for electricity use Monday (7/17), based on preliminary figures.

Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., customers used an estimated 7,290 megawatt-hours of electricity, breaking the previous summer record of 7,035 megawatt-hours set July 26, 2005. The all-time PPL Electric Utilities record for electricity use was 7,274 megawatt-hours set Dec. 20, 2004.

Throughout the hot, humid weather of the last several days, PPL Electric Utilities has continued to provide reliable electric delivery service.     

"We invest in maintenance and upgrades to our distribution system throughout the year so that we can serve our customers reliably when they need it most," said Dave Schleicher, director of engineering and design for PPL Electric Utilities.    

PJM Interconnection, which coordinates electric generation and the high-voltage electric power system in 13 states and the District of Columbia, has reported that it has enough electric generation and reserves to deliver all of the electricity customers are using.

Schleicher said customers can conserve electricity during times of extreme heat by turning off televisions, computers and other appliances when not in use; postponing activities that require hot water until late evening or early morning hours; and closing curtains, blinds or shutters to keep out the daytime sun.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation that provides electricity delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) controls about 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.