PPL Electric Utilities selected for U.S. Department of Energy grant for Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project

Grant terms still require negotiation with the DOE over the coming months before the award is finalized.

Rhea-AI Summary

PPL Electric Utilities (PPL) was selected on September 24, 2026, to receive up to $71.5 million in U.S. Department of Energy funding.

The funding, available through the DOE's SPARK program, would support the proposed Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project. The project would rebuild approximately 29.3 miles of an existing 230-kilovolt transmission line using advanced conductors and fiber-based monitoring technology. The company expects the work to improve reliability and increase the line's available capacity for customers in the Susquehanna Valley, Greater Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. Award terms remain to be negotiated and finalized with the DOE over the coming months.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

 Project will modernize 29.3 miles of existing transmission infrastructure to strengthen reliability, resilience and grid capacity.

ALLENTOWN, Pa., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Electric Utilities today joined U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, elected officials, project stakeholders and community leaders to announce that the company has been selected to receive up to $71.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project, a major modernization of an existing 230-kilovolt transmission corridor. The funding is being made available through the DOE's Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) Program.

The proposed Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project will rebuild approximately 29.3 miles of existing transmission line, replacing aging infrastructure with advanced technologies that strengthen reliability, enhance the line's available capacity and support growing energy needs while maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, providing long-term reliability and affordability benefits to customers throughout the Susquehanna Valley, Greater Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania.

"Today's announcement reinforces the Trump Administration's commitment to commonsense energy addition policies that lower electricity prices and strengthen our grid," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. "These investments will get more out of the infrastructure we already have, move more electricity across the grid, and help deliver affordable, reliable and secure power that will fuel American prosperity for decades to come."

"This Department of Energy funding will help PPL Electric modernize critical infrastructure, strengthen reliability and resilience and deploy advanced technologies that will help inform future grid investments," said PPL Electric Utilities President Christine Martin. "By bringing these federal resources into Pennsylvania, we can maximize the impact of every infrastructure dollar invested while helping minimize costs for customers and delivering long-term value for the communities we serve."

Support for Pennsylvania's energy infrastructure
The project has received support from federal and state stakeholders who recognize the importance of strengthening Pennsylvania's electric infrastructure and supporting future economic growth.

"Pennsylvanians need cheaper, more reliable power, and this grant will bring us closer to that goal," said Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA). "I'm proud to have supported this grant, which will strengthen the grid, encourage job-creating investments, and ensure lower-cost electricity for Pennsylvanians across the northeast and Lehigh Valley. I commend PPL and Secretary Chris Wright for their commitment to growing our great Commonwealth."

"Since day one, Secretary Wright and the Trump administration have been leading the effort to modernize America's electric grid, strengthen energy reliability and ensure we have the infrastructure needed to meet growing energy demand," said Congressman Dan Meuser. "This investment is an example of how the Trump Administration is working with our industry partners to put federal resources to work on critical infrastructure projects here in Pennsylvania. I'd like to thank President Trump and Secretary Wright for helping deliver more reliable power for families and businesses."

"Pennsylvania is an energy powerhouse, and the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve a grid system that promotes affordability and reliability for local families and businesses," said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. "That's why I support commonsense, all-of-the-above solutions that strengthen our energy infrastructure and help keep costs down for working families, seniors and small businesses. This investment will help modernize critical transmission infrastructure, expand capacity and strengthen reliability for customers across our region. I appreciate Secretary Wright and PPL Electric Utilities for their work to bring this investment to Pennsylvania."

Innovative project technologies
The project will deploy two advanced transmission technologies supported through DOE's SPARK Program:

Advanced Conductors: PPL Electric will use a combination of Aluminum Conductor Steel Supported (ACSS) and Aluminum Conductor Composite Core (ACCC) conductors on targeted segments of the line. These advanced conductors can carry more electricity, improve performance during high temperatures and provide greater long-term reliability while maximizing use of the existing transmission corridor.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing: The project will install dual optical ground wire to strengthen system protection and communications while expanding the corridor's fiber network. PPL Electric will use that fiber network to demonstrate Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology and evaluate new tools to better understand, monitor and operate the electric grid.

Over the coming months, PPL Electric will work with the DOE to negotiate and finalize the terms of the award.

About the SPARK Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy's Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) initiative supports projects that modernize and strengthen the nation's electric grid by upgrading existing transmission infrastructure with advanced technologies. Funded through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, SPARK is designed to increase grid capacity, improve reliability and resilience, reduce congestion, and deliver additional electricity using existing transmission corridors. Selected projects demonstrate how advanced conductors, grid-enhancing technologies and other innovative solutions can help meet growing energy demand while improving the efficiency and performance of the electric system.

About PPL Electric Utilities
PPL Electric Utilities delivers safe, reliable and affordable electricity to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It regularly ranks among the country's best utility companies for reliability and customer satisfaction. PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer and an active supporter of the communities it serves. It is a part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies. Visit pplelectric.com or connect on social media via Facebook, X and Instagram for energy efficiency tips, bill help information, guidance on shopping for an electricity supplier, storm updates and more.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at https://news.pplweb.com/ for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.

Contact: For news media: Dana Burns, DNBurns@pplweb.com, 610-774-5409
               PPL Electric Utilities

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ppl-electric-utilities-selected-for-us-department-of-energy-grant-for-montour-grid-resilience-and-advanced-reconductoring-project-302889500.html

SOURCE PPL Electric Utilities

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How much DOE funding was PPL Electric Utilities selected to receive for the Montour project?

PPL Electric Utilities was selected to receive up to $71.5 million in DOE funding for the proposed Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project. The award terms have not yet been finalized.

How would PPL Electric Utilities monitor the rebuilt Montour transmission line?

The project would install dual optical ground wire to support system protection and communications while expanding the corridor's fiber network. PPL Electric Utilities would use that network to demonstrate distributed acoustic sensing, a technology it plans to evaluate for monitoring and operating the grid.