Utility guide · Duquesne Light Holdings

Duquesne Light & solar.

Pittsburgh's own utility serves the city and most of Allegheny County. It also has the region's highest all-in rate, and a high rate makes solar pay back faster.

Allegheny & Beaver counties5 township guidesChecked Sep 2026
01 · Rates & net metering

What you pay per kWh, and what your panels earn back.

Price to compare$0.105Supply, per kWh
Distribution$0.074Delivery, per kWh
Customer charge$12.50Fixed, per month
Net metering cap50 kWResidential limit in PA. Most homes need 6–10 kW

Example residential rates. Supply rates reset every June 1 and December 1, so check your latest bill or the PUC's PAPowerSwitch site.

1:1

kWh for kWh

Each kWh you export offsets one kWh you import later, at the full retail rate, on the kWh-based parts of your bill.

↻

Monthly carryover

Extra kWh roll forward month to month, so summer surplus covers the dark winter months.

5/31

Annual true-up

Each May 31, Duquesne Light pays out any leftover credit at the price to compare, which is less than retail. So don't oversize your system.

02 · How to read the bill

Your Duquesne Light bill, after solar.

Duquesne LightRESIDENTIAL · RATE RS
JULY 2026
ACCT ••••4821
1Customer charge$12.50
2Distribution charges$0.00
3Generation / supply$0.00
4kWh delivered to you612 kWh
5kWh received from you−698 kWh
6Banked kWh credit86 kWh
Amount due$12.50
03 · Interconnection

From signed contract to "permission to operate."

1Day 1

Application filed

Your installer submits a Level 1 interconnection request to Duquesne Light with the one-line diagram.

Installer
22–4 weeks

Utility review

The utility checks the capacity of the transformer and circuit serving your street.

Duquesne Light
31–3 days

Install

The panels, inverter, and disconnect go in once the utility and township both approve.

Installer
41–2 weeks

Inspection

The township or its third-party agency inspects the electrical and structural work.

Township
51–3 weeks

Meter & PTO

A bi-directional meter is installed, then you get permission to operate. Only then do you switch it on.

Duquesne Light
04 · Where Duquesne Light serves

Township guides

All service areas →

Duquesne Lightalso serves many communities we haven't written guides for yet. Enter your zip on the quote form to check coverage.

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