Press Release

PUC OKs Re-Bid for Duquesne Light on Fixed Price Service for Commercial, Industrial Customers

Published on 5/4/2006

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission today directed Duquesne Light Co. to re-bid provider of last resort service for its large commercial and industrial customers receiving fixed price service.

“Some of these large commercial and industrial customers may have assumed that fixed price service would be available for an additional year and planned accordingly,” said Commissioner Bill Shane. “The Commission therefore finds that issuing a second request for proposal for fixed price service is in the public interest.”

The Commission voted unanimously to direct Duquesne Light to prepare a modified request for proposal and hold a second auction for fixed price service for large commercial and industrial customers for one year of service beginning June 1, 2006. Modifications to the proposal include restrictions on the percentage of the load to be bid and allowing an affiliate of Duquesne Light to participate in the process.

About 90 percent of the company’s consumers are currently being served by competitive electric generation suppliers. However, the remaining 10 percent (86 customers) obtain default service from Duquesne through fixed or hourly prices. Contact information on those customers will be made available through Duquesne’s secure website in order to encourage supply offers from competitive electric generation suppliers.

During its initial requests for proposals to provide supply for its large commercial and industrial customers, Duquesne received no bids from wholesale suppliers. By default, only hourly priced service was to be available to large commercial and industrial customers for that supply period. 

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission ensures safe, reliable and reasonably priced electric, natural gas, water, telephone and transportation service for Pennsylvania consumers, by regulating public utilities and by serving as responsible stewards of competition. For recent news releases, or more information about the PUC, visit our Internet homepage www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. P-00032071

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