PPL Shares Drop 1.12% as Leadership Transitions and Operational Hurdles Spark Investor Concerns

Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) shares dropped 1.12% intraday on September 18, 2025, marking their lowest level since July 2025. The decline reflects growing investor concerns over operational and leadership challenges at the company.

Recent leadership transitions have intensified scrutiny. Maria Perrin, PPL’s president, announced her resignation, while CEO Vince Coppola is set to be replaced by Miki Kapoor, a representative of PPL’s parent firm, Linden Capital Partners. These changes, occurring amid heightened regulatory oversight, have raised questions about governance stability and management’s ability to address systemic issues.

The company faces significant operational hurdles tied to its role as the sole fiscal intermediary for New York’s $9 billion Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). Payroll errors, delayed payments, and technical glitches in the Time for Care app have sparked caregiver frustrations. A recent incident involving altered direct deposit information and unfulfilled bonus promises further eroded trust. PPL attributed the issues to a former employee’s procedural lapses but has struggled to restore confidence.

Legal and regulatory pressures add to the uncertainty. A federal investigation into PPL’s CDPAP management is underway, with potential civil or criminal penalties looming. Critics argue the program’s consolidation under PPL has exposed vulnerabilities in data security and fraud prevention, despite the company’s claims of systemic improvements. Meanwhile, a phishing scam compromising caregiver data has highlighted operational weaknesses.

Reputational damage from past legal disputes in Pennsylvania and ongoing caregiver protests has compounded the challenges. Public backlash, including demonstrations at the New York State Capitol, underscores widespread dissatisfaction. While PPL emphasizes infrastructure investments and government support, stakeholders remain skeptical of its capacity to deliver on promises without further disruptions.

Investors are closely monitoring the federal probe’s outcome, caregiver grievances, and PPL’s ability to stabilize operations. Until these issues are resolved, the stock remains vulnerable to continued volatility.