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Pittsburgh-area electric customers are seeing higher bills just as the region heads into a stretch of hotter summer weather, with city and suburban households both feeling the pinch.<\/p>\n
As of June 1, Duquesne Light\u2019s \u201cprice to compare\u201d for city customers rose about 2.8%, while West Penn Power customers in many suburbs are facing a significantly larger increase of around 10% in their default supply rate. That means many households will be paying more per kilowatt-hour at the same time air conditioners are running longer and harder, a combination that can quickly drive up summer statements.<\/p>\n
In a statement to USA Today, West Penn Power said its “price to compare” increased from 10.95 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12.08 cents, adding about $11.28 a month for an average customer using 750 kilowatt-hours. The utility attributed the higher costs to broader market dynamics, including more expensive wholesale electricity and growing demand from large users such as manufacturers and data centers across PJM\u2019s 13-state grid.<\/p>\n
More: Allegheny General\u2019s $19M heart lab overhaul boosts patient care<\/a><\/p>\n More: Is it legal? What boaters can and can\u2019t do on Pittsburgh\u2019s rivers<\/a><\/p>\n The company emphasized that it does not generate electricity or control supply prices, saying it delivers power and passes supply costs through without markup, and that its rates remain below the average of its in-state peers.<\/p>\n The utility pointed customers to education, energy\u2011saving tools and shopping for competitive suppliers as ways to manage rising costs.<\/p>\n Consumer advocates added that simple steps at home can help blunt the impact: nudging the thermostat up a couple of degrees, using fans so you can run the air conditioning less, closing blinds during the hottest part of the day, sealing drafty windows and doors, and unplugging electronics that draw power even when they\u2019re off can all trim usage when every kilowatt-hour is costing more.<\/p>\n This story was created with the\u00a0assistance\u00a0of Artificial Intelligence (AI).\u00a0Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review,\u00a0editing\u00a0and publishing process.\u00a0Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n