Duquesne Light Company’s Proposed Rate Increase Approved by PUC
Increase to take effect starting Jan. 15; will be invested in service reliability and programs to support local economy
December 16, 2021
December 16, 2021
PITTSBURGH— On Dec. 16, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved Duquesne Light Company (DLC)’s settlement petition to both increase distribution rates and implement or expand various programs to support its customers in need. The base distribution rate increase — the company’s first since 2018 — will take effect beginning Jan. 15, 2022.
Under the approved settlement, an average residential customer using 600 kilowatt-hours per month will see their total bill increase by about $4.23 (or 4.23 percent) per month. Commercial customers can expect to see an increase of about $36.80 (or 4.27 percent) per month, and industrial customers can expect to see an increase of about $353.26 (or 2.13 percent) per month.
The additional revenue will be invested in distribution infrastructure and used to deploy technologies to maintain safe, reliable, resilient and affordable service for DLC’s 600,000-plus customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties.
The increase will also enable DLC to continue supporting the regional economy. The settlement includes shareholder backing to help the region’s ongoing economic recovery from COVID-19 — including a $1 million donation toward payment assistance programs for low-income customers for the next two years — and a community development rate that reduces distribution costs for new and expanding businesses in DLC’s service territory. It also builds upon DLC’s transportation electrification programs and will provide more ways for the company to help commercial and residential customers transition to electric vehicles.
“With the PUC’s approval of our settlement, DLC can continue focusing on serving our customers and delivering affordable, safe, resilient and reliable service,” said Kevin Walker, DLC’s president and CEO. “The additional funds will help us improve our critical infrastructure, build the future grid, support the transition to clean energy and maintain our overall system, which is one of the most reliable in the state.”
For more information, visit DuquesneLight.com/LightingTheWay or call Customer Service at 1-888-664-6579.