The deposit shortcut most new movers miss

A new-service security deposit at PPL is typically twice an average monthly bill (roughly $300 to $400 for a standard home). PPL waives it for any applicant who passes a soft credit check using your Social Security number, who can show 24 months of positive utility-credit history with any U.S. utility, or who provides a qualifying co-signer. In practice the credit-check route clears more than 97% of credit-screened applicants, which is why providing your SSN at sign-up almost always pays for itself.

Three steps to keep the lights on the day you move in

Most relocators only need to confirm the territory, open the account, then decide whether to shop a supplier. The first two are mandatory; the third can wait a month.

1. Confirm PPL serves the address

PPL covers ~1.4 million customers across 29 PA counties. If your address is outside that footprint, you fall under PECO, FirstEnergy (Met-Ed, Penelec, West Penn Power), Duquesne or a municipal. Check the PPL service area first.

2. Open the account

Online via My Account or by phone at 1-800-342-5775 (Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Allow 2 business days before move-in. Same-day connections happen but are not guaranteed.

3. Choose to stay on PTC or shop

PA is a retail-choice state. PPL supplies you by default at the PTC; you can pick a fixed-rate competitive EGS at PAPowerSwitch.com any time, with no service interruption.

What to have ready before you call

PPL screens every new applicant under PA PUC Chapter 56 rules. The faster you produce these items, the more likely the rep can waive the deposit on the spot.

  • 1Legal name and date of birth of the account holder (this is the person liable for the bill).
  • 2Service address with apartment or unit number, plus the date you take possession. PPL uses the address to pull the existing meter record.
  • 3Social Security number for a soft credit check. Optional, but the easiest way to skip the deposit (more than 97% of credit-checked applicants pass).
  • 4Photo ID (driver's license, state ID or passport) and, for renters, the lease type and landlord name. PPL may verify your right to occupy.
  • 5Phone, email and forwarding mailing address if different from the service address. PPL uses email for paperless billing and outage alerts.
  • 6Prior PPL account number (only if you have ever had a PPL account before). It speeds up identity matching and surfaces any existing positive credit history.

Three ways to open your PPL account

Online is fastest, phone is best if you have questions, mail is slowest and rarely necessary.

Online (fastest)

Go to pplelectric.com, open My Account, choose Start, Stop or Move Service. Confirmation arrives by email within minutes. No hold time.

By phone (best for questions)

Call 1-800-342-5775 (1-800-DIAL-PPL), Mon to Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Average hold under 5 minutes outside the late-month peak.

By mail (slowest)

Download the Application for Service from pplelectric.com, mail it to PPL Electric Utilities, 827 Hausman Road, Allentown, PA 18104. Allow 7 to 10 business days. Rarely used.

Security deposit: when PPL asks, when it does not

Under PA PUC Chapter 56, any electric distribution company can require a deposit from a new customer who fails a credit screen. PPL applies the rule consistently. Knowing what counts as a pass keeps the deposit off your first bill.

Conditions for PPL Electric to waive or require a deposit
Your situation Deposit? Notes
SSN passes PPL's soft credit check Waived ~97% of credit-checked applicants pass. Soft pull does not affect your score.
24 months of positive utility credit (any U.S. utility) Waived Provide a payment-history letter from your prior utility.
Qualifying co-signer Waived Co-signer must be a PPL customer in good standing for 12+ months.
Failed credit screen, no co-signer ~2x avg monthly bill Typically $300 to $400. Refunded plus interest after 12 consecutive on-time payments.
Income-qualified (LIHEAP recipient or PPL CAP enrollee) Waived Chapter 56 bars deposits for confirmed low-income households.

Source: PA PUC Chapter 56 (residential service) regulations; PPL Electric Customer Service Tariff.

Default service or shop a supplier?

PA deregulated electric supply in 1996. You never have to shop, and there is no penalty for staying on PPL's default. But the supply line is roughly 55% of a typical PPL bill, so it pays to compare.

Stay on PPL default (PTC)

PPL procures supply through a PUC-approved auction. The resulting PTC resets every June 1 and December 1. You pay only delivery + PTC supply on one PPL bill. Zero shopping effort.

Best if: you want one bill, no contract, no decisions.

Shop a competitive EGS

Pick a licensed supplier from PAPowerSwitch.com. Fixed-rate plans lock supply for 6 to 36 months; 100% renewable options are common. PPL still delivers and bills you on one statement.

Best if: you want price certainty, a green plan, or you can beat the PTC.

Either way, an outage call still goes to PPL at 1-800-342-5775. The wires and the meter never change.

If you are renting

Renters open service the same way as homeowners, with two extra checks worth doing before you sign the lease:

  • ✓Confirm electric is tenant-paid. Some Pennsylvania apartments include electricity in rent or use master-metered billing; you cannot open a PPL account for those addresses.
  • ✓Ask whether the landlord has any unpaid PPL balance attached to the meter. PA PUC rules protect tenants, but a landlord shut-off can delay your activation.
  • ✓Set your service start date for the day you take possession, not the day you actually move in. If the previous tenant has already cancelled, the meter spins backwards or estimates wildly without an active account.
  • ✓Keep the lease handy. PPL may ask for the start date and landlord name to verify your right to occupy.

Day one in your new PPL home

Five low-effort items that prevent surprise bills and outage anxiety later.

Read your meter

Snap a photo of the kWh display the day you take possession. If PPL bills off an estimate, you have proof.

Test breakers and outlets

A flipped breaker or burned-out GFCI is the cheapest "outage" to fix. Walk every outlet with a phone charger before calling PPL.

Enroll in outage alerts

Text REG to 898775 from the phone number on the account. Text OUT to the same shortcode reports any outage in seconds.

Set up auto-pay

Free bank draft via My Account avoids the $2.95 BillMatrix fee and the 1.5% late charge.

Note your current PTC

Your first bill prints the PPL PTC top-right. Set a calendar reminder for May 25 and November 25 to recheck supplier offers before the reset.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I call PPL?
At least 2 business days before your move-in date. PPL accepts requests up to 30 days in advance, which is usually a better idea around the first of the month when call volumes spike. Same-day starts are possible but require a technician dispatch and are never guaranteed.
Do I have to give PPL my Social Security number?
No. The SSN is optional. But without it PPL cannot run the credit check that waives the security deposit. You can refuse the SSN and instead provide 24 months of positive utility-credit history or a qualifying co-signer. If neither applies, expect a deposit of roughly twice your average monthly bill, refunded with interest after 12 on-time payments.
Will I have to pick an electricity supplier right away?
No. PPL is your default EGS from the day service starts and continues to supply you until you actively pick a competitive supplier. You can shop at any time at PAPowerSwitch.com. The switch is invisible: same wires, same meter, same outage line.
I am moving within PPL territory; do I open a new account?
No, you transfer it. One call to 1-800-342-5775 closes the old address and opens the new one on the same account number, which keeps your payment history, any active competitive-supplier contract and your auto-pay setup. Two business days of notice is enough.
I am building a new house; how is the process different?
New-construction connections go through PPL's Contractor Services tool, not the standard move-in flow. Request the service drop, meter set and inspection before any electrical work starts; a fresh PPL connection takes 4 to 8 weeks once permits are filed. The builder or licensed electrician usually opens the work order; you take the account over at occupancy.
What if PPL does not serve my new address?
Pennsylvania has eleven major EDCs. Outside PPL's 29-county footprint you are likely served by PECO (Philadelphia area), Met-Ed, Penelec or West Penn Power (FirstEnergy), Duquesne Light (Pittsburgh) or a municipal/cooperative utility. Browse the PA utilities directory to find yours and reuse the same playbook.
18 deregulated jurisdictions

More U.S. states with energy choice

Same playbook, different utility. Pick another deregulated state to compare utilities, suppliers and switching rules.

See all states