Allentown, Pa. – September 24, 2026 -- PPL Electric Utilities has been selected to receive up to $71.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to rebuild 29.3 miles of an existing 230-kilovolt transmission corridor under the Montour Grid Resilience and Advanced Reconductoring Project.
DOE Secretary Chris Wright joins officials to announce the SPARK Program award
The funding flows through DOE's Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) Program, part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships initiative. Wright said the investment will help move more electricity across existing infrastructure and deliver lower-cost, more reliable power.
Project targets aging infrastructure across three Pennsylvania regions
The rebuilt line will serve customers in the Susquehanna Valley, Greater Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. PPL Electric Utilities President Christine Martin said the federal resources will help maximize the impact of infrastructure spending while minimizing costs for customers.
Elected officials back the grant as a driver of regional affordability
Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Congressmen Dan Meuser and Ryan Mackenzie voiced support for the project, citing its potential to strengthen grid reliability and hold down electricity costs for households and businesses in the Lehigh Valley, Poconos and surrounding areas.
Two advanced technologies will be deployed on targeted line segments
PPL Electric will install Aluminum Conductor Steel Supported (ACSS) and Aluminum Conductor Composite Core (ACCC) advanced conductors on select segments to increase capacity and improve performance during high temperatures. The project will also add dual optical ground wire, expanding the corridor's fiber network to support Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology for grid monitoring and operations.
PPL Electric will now negotiate final award terms with DOE
Over the coming months, the utility will work with the Department of Energy to finalize the terms of the award before construction proceeds on the 29.3-mile corridor.