Time flies when you're saving energy. PPL Electric Utilities' Energy Analyzer, launched in 2007 as part of a customer-focused makeover of pplelectric.com, turns five this month and remains a popular energy-saving tool. 

As of the end of May, more than 300,000 customers have registered and used the myPPL Energy Analyzer, which allows the utility's customers timely access to how much electricity they're using on an hourly, daily or monthly basis. The Energy Analyzer also offers tips on how to use energy wisely, be more efficient and save on utility costs. 

With the introduction of the Energy Analyzer, PPL Electric Utilities was the first utility in Pennsylvania and among the first nationally to track and display daily electric use information for all of its customers. This was made possible by the company's deployment of advanced meters across its entire service territory between 2002 and 2004. The meters are read remotely with usage information securely transmitted via power lines back to the utility.

Designed primarily for residential and small-business customers, the Energy Analyzer gives personalized energy-use reports and allows comparisons with the energy use of similar homes. It also has calculators to show customers how much energy they can save by replacing existing appliances with more energy-efficient models. A bill analyzer tool lets customers take a closer look at differences between bills and understand the effects of weather on their energy use.

"When we launched the Energy Analyzer, it was the largest data collection in the utility's history," said Tom Stathos, director of Customer Programs and Services for the utility. "We believe energy awareness and timely information on energy usage ultimately lead to customer savings, and our studies have proven that true.

"Marking the five-year milestone is about celebrating the energy-saving power that the analyzer puts in our customers' hands and how educated energy consumers are achieving savings that will provide benefits for years to come," Stathos said.

Customers need to sign in to their online profile to use the Energy Analyzer. If they don't already have an online profile, they'll be prompted to create one. The process takes just a few minutes and will require information from the customer's latest electric bill. To access the analyzer, go to www.pplelectric.com/e-power and click on Energy Analyzer in the navigation. 

PPL Electric Utilities, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), provides electric delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania and has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States.www.pplelectric.com.