Pennsylvania PUC approves two Duquesne Light petitions
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved two petitions from Duquesne Light Company last week that the company filed in accordance with Act 11 of 2012.
Act 11 requires utility providers to file Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plans (LTIIPs) as a part of any action to establish a Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC). Duquesne Light’s LTIIP, filed on April 15, seeks to accelerate the work schedule for the repair, improvement and replacement of aging infrastructure for the period of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2022.
The related DSIC aims to recover the costs incurred by the work needed to conduct necessary upgrades on eligible distribution property that is within the company’s distribution system. Duquesne Light’s service area covers territory in Allegheny and Beaver Counties, serving approximately 590,000 customers.
The PUC approved the petitions by a unanimous 5-0 vote. Duquesne Light’s DSIC will go into effect on Oct. 1, and the company estimates that the initial DSIC charge will be approximately 0.36 percent of customer distribution charges.
The PUC operates to balance the needs of consumers and utilities, ensuring safe and reliable services at reasonable rates. The commission has previously approved LTIIPs for the FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Companies; Peoples Natural Gas; UGI Utilities, Inc. – Gas; UGI Penn Natural Gas, Inc.; and Central Penn Gas, Inc.
