Press Release

PUC Public Input Hearings Set for Early June for Rate Increase Sought by Duquesne Light Company

Published on 5/6/2024

Filed under: Electric

In-Person and Telephonic Hearings on June 5 and 6 Provide Opportunities to Gather Public Input from Customers and Other Concerned Parties

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today announced the scheduling of a series of in-person and telephonic hearings in early June to gather public input on the request by Duquesne Light Company (Duquesne Light) to increase rates for electric distribution services. Duquesne Light provides electric distribution services to more than 600,000 customers in parts of Allegheny and Beaver counties.

PUC Public Input Hearings

Two in-person hearings have been scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the following times and locations:

• 1 p.m. – Piatt Place
                Conference Room #3023 (Located on the 3^rd Floor)
                301 Fifth Avenue
                Pittsburgh, PA  15222
  
  
• 6 p.m. – Community College of Beaver County
                Conference Room #9103 (Located in the Library)
                1 Campus Drive
                Monaca, PA 15061
                Note:  Park in Lot B (no pass required)

Additionally, two telephonic public input hearings have been scheduled for the following date and times:

• Thursday, June 6, 2024

        Hearing #1 will begin at 1 p.m.
        Hearing #2 will begin at 6 p.m.
        * Registration deadline is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024

PUC Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Mark A. Hoyer will preside over the public input hearings.

Signing Up for the Public Input Hearings

IN-PERSON HEARINGS:  Pre-registration is not required to testify at an in-person public input hearing. There will be a sign-up sheet in the hearing room.

TELEPHONIC HEARINGS: If you wish to testify at a June 6, 2024, telephonic public input hearing, you are encouraged to pre-register with the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge.

Individuals will testify in the order in which they pre-register.

To pre-register to testify by telephone, please contact the Judge Hoyer’s legal assistant, Mary Swarner, no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, either by phone at (412) 565-3550 or by email at mswarner@pa.gov. If you do not register in advance, you may not be able to testify.

When registering, please provide the following:

• Your first and last name.
• The date and time of the public hearing at which you wish to testify.
• The phone number you will be using to call into the hearing.
• A phone number where you can be reached prior to the hearing, if different.
• Your address and email address (if you have one).
• If you require an interpreter to participate in the hearing, the language of the interpreter.

If you do not wish to testify, but want to listen to the public input hearing(s), please contact Judge Hoyer’s office by email at mswarner@pa.gov or phone at (412) 565-3550 and provide your name and the hearing(s) you want to listen to so we can ensure we have adequate call capacity on the conference bridge to accommodate all callers.  You may call into the hearing using the call-in information listed in the hearing notice.

Requests for Interpreters

If you require an interpreter, please pre-register as soon as possible. If you register too close to the hearing date, there not be enough time to arrange for an interpreter. If you request an interpreter, every reasonable effort will be made to have one present.

Hearing Exhibits

If you have any hearing exhibits to which you will refer during the hearing, please email them to the Mary Swarner at mswarner@pa.gov.  Ms. Swarner will forward your exhibits to all parties.  Exhibits must be received by June 4, 2024.

Offering Testimony at a Public Input Hearing

The PUC offers tips on how to participate in a public input hearing, including:

• Prepare what you are going to say beforehand. Even though it is not required, you may want to write out your statement, which can be read.
• Any formal testimony that is offered during the hearing will become part of the record on which the PUC will issue its final decision.
• Understand that parties in the case may want to ask you a question to clarify something you said.

Duquesne Light Rate Increase Request

On April 4, 2024, the Commission voted 5-0 to investigate the request, which was filed on March 20, 2024.

The changes proposed by Duquesne Light would produce a general increase in electric distribution rates of approximately $133 million.  Due to the proposed base rate increase including $32 million of revenues currently recovered under surcharges, the increase to customers over current charges is $101 million (15.9%).

Under the proposal, the total monthly bill for an average residential customer using 600 kilowatt hours would increase from $130.67 to $139.19 (6.52%).

A final PUC decision on Duquesne Light’s rate increase request is due by Dec. 20, 2024.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket No.:
R-2024-3046523

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov