The greater Pittsburgh area has been powered by Duquesne Light Company for more than a century and today serves over 600,000 customers. With more than 7,700 miles of transmission lines, the utility company serves residents and businesses from Allegheny to Beaver county in Pennsylvania.
As a part of the deregulated electricity market, Duquesne Light customers have the power to choose their own electricity rate and plan. While Duquesne Light offers customers electricity at the price to compare (PTC) you can often find more competitive rates by shopping with third-party retail electricity providers (REPs). Today, about 30% of Pennsylvanians have switched from buying electricity directly from the local utility provider to shopping around for the best energy deal.
Duquesne Light is first and foremost a local utility company. This means that they are responsible for delivering electricity to your home, maintaining grid infrastructure, and, in Pennsylvania, sending you your monthly bill. As a utility Duquesne owns and maintains the power lines and is responsible for making repairs in the event of a power outage.
Although utilities can also sell energy directly to customers in Pennsylvania, they also compete against third-party energy companies. These energy companies sell electricity directly to customers and manage their accounts, even though they still use utility company lines to deliver power.
There are a variety of energy companies that operate within Duquesne’s service area, each offering competitive electricity rates and unique contract terms. Some top-rated providers available on EnergyBot’s marketplace include:
To find the cheapest energy plan for your home or business, enter your zip code to get started comparing electricity rates on EnergyBot’s marketplace.
Duquesne Light offers a default rate called the Price to Compare. This is what you pay if you don’t actively choose another electricity supplier. While it’s a convenient option, the PTC fluctuates every quarter and can often be higher than what’s available in the competitive market.
For example, if Duquesne Light’s current Price to Compare is 10.25 cents per kWh and there’s a supplier offering 8.00 cents per kWh, you could be saving quite a bit. On average, even a small difference in cents per kilowatt-hour can add up to significant savings over the course of a year.
Pro Tip: The price to compare is determined by costs associated with generation and transmission, as well as any necessary maintenance or upgrades to the grid.
If you don’t shop for a new supplier, you’ll continue to pay Duquesne Light’s default Price to Compare. While it’s convenient to stick with it, you could end up paying significantly more, especially if the PTC rises in the next quarter. By taking the time to compare rates now, you can secure a lower rate and start saving immediately.
If Duquesne Light Company services your home or business for electric utilities or as an energy provider, you'll need to know how to contact customer service if a problem ever arises.
No, Duquesne Light is not the only power company in Pennsylvania. Duquesne Light is one of several local utility providers that serve Pennsylvania, with Duquesne primarily covering the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
The price to compare typically changes twice a year in Pennsylvania on June 1 and December 1, although it may change more if there are necessary upgrades and expenses for the electrical grid. The Price to Compare is highly monitored and regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission to ensure fairness for consumers.
To fix any local electrical equipment or report a power outage you will need to contact your local utility provider. For most of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area this will be Duquesne Light. In the event of a power outage or electrical emergency, call 412-393-7300.
