With above-average hurricane activity forecast across the Atlantic region this year, PPL Electric Utilities continues to be on high alert and prepared for any severe weather that may affect its 29-county service territory during storm season, which typically occurs between June 1 and Nov. 1.

Recently, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas after becoming the earliest hurricane to form in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the second named system to form this season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting 17-25 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher over the summer and into the fall. Of those, eight to 13 are predicted to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher.

While hurricanes don’t typically affect Pennsylvania directly, the remnants of those storms can bring severe winds and heavy rains. So far this year, PPL Electric has responded to 17 storms.

“As we face frequent and severe storms, we want our customers to know that we are always ready to respond,” David Quier, PPL Electric vice president and chief operating officer, said. “We are continually investing in our electric system and our team so that we can provide the most reliable service possible.”

PPL Electric makes year-round improvements to strengthen and modernize its energy grid. This includes monitoring the health of the electric system through helicopter and drone inspections and the use of sensors and infrared technology to make upgrades and repairs.

The development of smart grid technology reduces the size of the area affected by an outage and automatically reroutes power around trouble spots. Since trees are the leading cause of outages during storms, trees and vegetation are trimmed along thousands of miles of power lines each year.

When an outage occurs, PPL Electric’s state-of-the-art operations software automatically identifies the fault location and restores power faster. Other reliability improvements include upgrading power lines and poles with more storm-resistant materials, adding more automated sensors for improved fault isolation and restoration, deploying predictive sensors to identify issues before outages occur and installing avian guards and lightning protection along transmission lines.

As storms near, teams are activated with additional personnel, 16-hour shifts may be implemented and crews are sent to respond as safely and quickly as possible.

PPL Electric understands it’s never easy to be without power. While every customer is a priority, critical systems like hospitals come first.

Just as PPL Electric prepares for emergencies, the company encourages customers to get prepared, stay connected and stay safe before, during and after a storm.

• Prepare an emergency kit with food, water, medication, flashlights and pet supplies.

• Charge your phones and devices.

• Make alternate plans if you have a medical condition that requires electricity.

• Purchase power strips with lightning arresters or surge protectors for your appliances and electronics.

• Consider installing lightning rods on your property.

Stay connected.

• Report power outages online at pplelectric.com or text “Outage” to TXTPPL (898775).

• Sign up for alerts to stay connected and receive outage updates at pplelectric.com/alerts.

• Check the status of an outage and estimated restoration times online at pplelectric.com/outage.

• Follow PPL on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest updates.

Avoid utility poles and metal conductors. If you encounter a downed wire at any time, assume it’s energized, stay away and report it immediately to PPL Electric.

Electric and plumbing equipment may carry lightning current. Avoid using any appliances or electronics plugged into an electrical outlet.

If using a portable generator, never operate the generator in an enclosed area, like a garage, where carbon monoxide fumes could accumulate.

Remember candles can start fires. Use flashlights instead. If you lose power, turn off any appliances that were on when the power went off.

For your safety and ours, keep a safe distance from our crews.