Duquesne Light Complete Guide to Pittsburgh Electricity Rates, Service Area, and Energy Choice

Duquesne Light Company is the primary electric distribution utility serving Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. Key facts:

• Serves more than 600,000 customers across ~817 square miles
• Over 130 years of service to the Pittsburgh area
• Subsidiary of Duquesne Light Holdings
• Regulated by Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

As a distribution company in Pennsylvania's deregulated market, Duquesne Light does not generate electricity but delivers it to homes and businesses. Customers can choose suppliers through PA Power Switch while Duquesne Light maintains infrastructure, handles outage response, and manages meter reading.

Duquesne Light service territory covers western Pennsylvania along the Ohio border. Geographic coverage:

• Allegheny County (vast majority)
• Beaver County
• Pittsburgh area: Downtown, North Hills, South Hills, eastern suburbs

Major municipalities:

• City of Pittsburgh (population 302,000)
• Penn Hills, Bethel Park, Ross Township, Shaler Township

Infrastructure: Over 45,000 miles of overhead power lines and underground distribution. Customer breakdown:

• ~525,000 residential customers (~90%)
• ~63,000 commercial/industrial customers

Verify your utility by checking your electric bill or using PA Power Switch.

Duquesne Light Price to Compare for residential customers is currently 12.43 cents per kWh as of December 2025. Current rates:

• Residential: 12.43¢/kWh
• Business: ~10.29¢/kWh

2025 rate increases:

• Over 15% increase in June 2025
• Generation portion jumped from 8.45¢ to 9.71¢/kWh
• Primary driver: 833% higher PJM capacity costs

Update schedule: Twice yearly on June 1 and December 1 (unlike FirstEnergy's quarterly schedule). Price to Compare includes: Generation supply, transmission, gross receipts tax, and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards compliance.

Duquesne Light customers saw average monthly bill increases of around $9 in June 2025. Primary factors:

• June 2024 PJM capacity auction: Pricing 833% higher than prior year
• Capacity costs: Payments to power plants for reliable generation
• Tighter supply margins: Older plants retiring faster than new generation coming online
• Rising natural gas costs: Fuels significant portion of PA electricity generation

Bill impact:

• Residential: 10-20% higher bills
• Business: Increases up to 29%

These wholesale market costs flow through to utility default service rates via the Price to Compare.

Switching electricity suppliers in Duquesne Light territory follows Pennsylvania's standard energy choice process. How to switch:

1. Visit PAPowerSwitch.com to compare licensed supplier offers
2. Gather your Duquesne Light account number from your bill
3. Compare offers against the 12.43¢/kWh Price to Compare
4. Select a supplier and enroll directly through their website or by phone

What to expect:

• Supplier handles all switch notifications automatically
• Transition takes 1-2 billing cycles
• No interruption to electricity service
• One consolidated bill from Duquesne Light

Duquesne Light continues delivering electricity and responding to outages regardless of supplier choice.

Duquesne Light electric bills separate charges into distinct categories. Bill components:

• Supply charges: Electricity generation (Price to Compare or competitive supplier rate)
• Distribution charges: Infrastructure to deliver electricity to your home
• Customer charge: Fixed monthly fee for service connection
• Transmission charges: Moving power from generating stations to local grid
• Riders: Smart meters, energy efficiency, infrastructure improvements

Information displayed:

• Total kilowatt-hour usage
• Daily averages and year-over-year comparisons
• Price to Compare for evaluating supplier offers
• Supplier name and rate (if using competitive supplier)

Duquesne Light manages all power outages throughout their service territory regardless of electricity supplier. How to report outages:

• Call 412-393-7100
• Duquesne Light website and mobile app
• Online outage map shows affected areas and restoration times

Grid modernization investments:

• Smart meters and automated switching equipment
• Aggressive vegetation management programs
• 24/7 emergency crews for downed wires, equipment failures, storm damage

For emergencies: Downed power lines or electrical hazards—call 412-393-7000 immediately. Stay informed: Register for outage alerts via text, email, or phone.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures strong consumer protections for Duquesne Light customers. Key protections:

• All suppliers must hold valid PA PUC licenses
• 3-day rescission period to cancel new contracts without penalty
• Standardized disclosure statements required in contracts
• Early termination fees capped at $50 for contracts ≤1 year
• No security deposits for customers with satisfactory payment history

Service quality: Duquesne Light must maintain equal service quality regardless of supplier choice. Dispute resolution:

• PA PUC investigates billing disputes
• Publishes supplier complaint statistics

These protections empower customers to shop confidently for competitive rates.

Duquesne Light customers can reduce electricity costs through strategic shopping and efficiency improvements. Shopping strategies:

• Compare offers against 12.43¢/kWh Price to Compare
• Fixed-rate plans protect against future increases
• Review offers every 6-12 months

Duquesne Light efficiency programs:

• Appliance rebates
• Weatherization assistance
• Energy audits

Quick savings tips:

• Smart thermostat: Reduces heating/cooling costs significantly
• LED lighting: Saves substantially vs incandescent
• Energy Star appliances: Reduce consumption

Payment options:

• Budget billing: Spreads costs evenly across 12 months
• Customer Assistance Program: Reduced rates for low-income customers

Duquesne Light contact numbers:

• Customer service: 412-393-7100 (billing, accounts, service)
• Power outages: 412-393-7100 or Duquesne Light app
• Emergency (downed wires): 412-393-7000

Online resources:

• duquesnelight.com: Account management, bill payment, usage tracking
• PAPowerSwitch.com: Compare licensed electricity suppliers
• puc.pa.gov: Consumer guides, complaint data, dispute resolution

Energy assistance programs:

• LIHEAP: Help for qualifying customers
• Customer Assistance Program: Reduced rates for income-eligible customers