ALLENTOWN - PPL Electric Utilities plans $664 million in capital improvements to its electric delivery system that serves central and eastern Pennsylvania in 2012. It's a nearly 50 percent jump in capital investments over last year as the utility expands efforts to strengthen reliability and address aging infrastructure.

More than 100 local projects are funded to build new substations, upgrade existing facilities, replace older transmission lines and poles, improve distribution circuits, and upgrade technology for improved operations. The transmission network connects with neighboring utilities and moves high-voltage power across the region, while the distribution system provides electricity to local communities and directly serves individual customers.

PPL has been steadily increasing its capital investments in recent years, from roughly $290 million in 2009 to $422 million in 2010 to $458 million last year. "We have a long-term comprehensive plan to invest more in our electric delivery system," said David DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities. "We are making thoughtful and prudent decisions to renew, strengthen and modernize our system to enhance our operations and better serve our customers for years to come."

"This is much-needed work that will reinforce our regional power grid. These projects represent significantly greater investments in the critical infrastructure for Pennsylvania's economy and will provide hundreds of construction jobs," said DeCampli.