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PA PUC Approves Duquesne Light’s Joint Rate Settlement Including Customer Assistance Programs & Incentivize EV Mobility Pittsburgh Program
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved a joint settlement that includes substantially smaller changes in electric distribution rates for customers of Duquesne Light Company (Duquesne Light), and also enhances the utility’s customer assistance programs and provides new incentives and rate structures further promoting electric vehicle (EV) mobility throughout in the Pittsburgh region.
Excerpts from the press release:
{***} The Commission voted 5-0 to adopt the Recommended Decision of PUC Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Mark A. Hoyer and approve the joint settlement – which is broadly supported by the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate, the Office of Small Business Advocate, the Coalition for Affordable Utility Services and Energy Efficiency in Pennsylvania (CAUSE-PA), the Pennsylvania Weatherization Providers Task Force, Inc., Walmart Inc., the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement, and Duquesne Light.
The rate changes included in the settlement are intended to produce increased distribution operating revenues of $85.1 million – which includes $32.1 million of revenues currently recovered under surcharges. The result is a net increase to customers over current charges of $53 million – which is a nearly a 50% reduction from Duquesne Light’s initial request of $101 million, exclusive of the revenues currently recovered under the surcharges, filed on March 20, 2024.
Under the joint settlement, the total monthly bill for an average residential customer using 600 kilowatt-hours (kWhs) will increase from $130.67 to $135.88 (3.99%). Under the company’s proposal, the total monthly bill for an average residential customer using 600 kWhs would have increased from $130.67 to $139.19 (6.52%). As part of the settlement Duquesne Light agrees to not file a proposed general increase in distribution rates prior to March 20, 2026.
Additionally, with this settlement Duquesne Light agrees to a series of enhancements to its consumer assistance programs (CAPs) to increase accessibility, coordination and communication with the company’s most economically vulnerable customers. {***}
Press Release (11/07/2024)
Recommended Decision (11/07/2024)
Chairman’s Statement (11/07/2024)
Approved Joint Settlement (11/07/2024)
R-2024-3046523 (Opened 02/14/2024)
Duquesne Light Company filed rate increase request.
