Local utility bills expected to rise after proposed rate increases approved by PUC

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved rate increases for two utility companies in the area.

Duquesne Light Company’s proposed rate increase — the company’s first since 2018 — will take effect beginning Jan. 15, 2022.

The company said 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.

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.

For more information, visit DuquesneLight.com/LightingTheWay or call Customer Service at 1-888-664-6579.

The PUC also approved a rate increase for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Inc., albeit a smaller increase than what was proposed by the company.

The Commission voted 3-0 to approve a settlement that reduces Columbia Gas’ requested rate increase by approximately 40%.  Columbia Gas’ initial request called for an overall revenue increase of approximately $98.3 million (19.91%) per year. The approved revenue increase of $58.5 million (11.87%), becomes effective Dec. 29.

Under the approved settlement, the total average monthly bill of a residential customer using 70 therms of gas per month will increase from $100.77 to $109.10 (8.27%).  Under Columbia Gas’ original proposal, the average total monthly bill for the same residential customer would have increased from $100.77 to $115.37 (14.49%).

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