Duquesne Light Company's Universal Service
Programs
General Information:
Where To Call?
You may directly ask about and apply for Duquesne Light’s
Low-Income Programs by calling 1-888-393-7600.
What Are the Names of the Duquesne Light's
Programs?
How Can These Programs Benefit Me?
- CAP lowers your monthly electric bill based on the amount
of your household income.
- Smart Comfort helps reduce household
electric use resulting in lower bills.
- CARES connects you
to local social service agencies that can help you.
- Dollar
Energy Fund provides grants to stop shut-off or to reconnect
service.
The CAP Program
What are the actual benefits I can get in
CAP?
Reduced monthly payments:
- As a CAP customer, you will receive
a sizeable discount on your ongoing electric usage.
Freezing
past debt:
- If you were not enrolled in the CAP program in
the past, then when you enroll, your past debt will be frozen.
This means that as long as you make your CAP payments on
time and in full, Duquesne Light Co. will not make collections
on that past due amount and no fees will be applied against
the debt.
- If you are removed from the CAP program for failing
to pay your CAP bill in full and on time, then Duquesne Light
Co. may begin collection on this amount.
Forgiving past debt:
- If you pay your CAP bill in full and on
time each month, Duquesne Light will forgive 1/36th of your
past debt. At this rate, if you pay in full and on time each
month, your entire debt will be erased in 3 years.
How do
I know if I am eligible for CAP?
What
are my responsibilities to get into and stay in CAP?
- You must
contact Duquesne Light Co. to apply. You can call them at 1-888-393-7600.
- You must fill out an application and verify your
income.
- You must pay your CAP bill on time and in full each
month.
- You must complete a Smart Comfort visit before enrollment
in CAP if any of the following apply:
- You have a residential
heating account;
- You own your own home and have a base
load usage greater than 500 kWh per month;
- You rent your
home, have a base load usage greater than 500 kWh per
month, and have resided at the premise for 6 months or
more.
- You may remain in CAP for as long as you are
income qualified and continue to make payments, even
if you no longer have an arrearage.
Can I be removed from CAP?
- Yes, you may be removed from
CAP if you do not pay your CAP bill in full and on time each
month. Duquesne Light Co. has a strict policy of contacting
customers within 5 days of a missed CAP bill. If payment
is not promptly made after this 5 day contact, then Duquesne
begins termination proceedings.
- If your household income
increases above the eligibility guidelines, or you do not
provide the requested annual income information, or you do
not comply with program guidelines, then you may be removed
from the program.
- If your energy usage exceeds 500 kWh per
month after enrollment in CAP and you have not completed
a Smart Comfort visit within the last 7 years, you must
complete a visit, or you may be removed from the CAP
program
Can I get back into CAP if I am removed from the
program?
- Yes. To get back into CAP, you must pay all of
the CAP bills you missed. If your service has been terminated,
you will also be required to pay a reconnection fee.
- If a termination lasts for more than two weeks,
Duquesne Light will also require a past CAP customer
to repeat the CAP application process prior to reenrollment
in CAP.
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The Smart Comfort Program
What is Smart Comfort?
Duquesne Light’s Smart Comfort program helps households
with high electric use levels conserve energy and reduce monthly
energy bills.
How can I qualify for Smart Comfort?
- If you are under 62 years
of age, you must have a household income at or below 150% of
the Federal poverty income guidelines. (Click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines.)
- If you are 62 years of age or older, you must have
a household income at or below 200% of the Federal poverty
income guidelines. (Click
here to view a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines.)
- Additionally, you must use at least 500 kWh of electric
per month and have lived in your residence for at least six
months. (The residency and base load requirement does not
apply to CAP customers who are homeowners with electric heat.
The residency requirement does not apply to CAP customers
who are homeowners.)
What are the actual benefits of Smart
Comfort?
- By participating in Smart Comfort, you may
reduce the amount of energy you use each month. This will
most likely result in lower monthly bills.
- By participating in Smart Comfort, you will receive
a free home energy usage review, education to help you learn
how to reduce your energy use, and the installation of energy
conservation measures (i.e., the replacement of old appliances
with new energy efficient ones).
What are my responsibilities
as a Smart Comfort participant?
- To receive services, you must
agree to submit verification of your household income as
part of the application process.
- As a participant, you must agree to allow a utility
employee (or subcontractor) to inspect your residence and
perform an energy audit.
- You must also agree to allow a utility employee (or
subcontractor) to inspect your residence one year after the
conservation measures are installed. This allows the utility
to determine if the conservation measures have been cost
effective and helped you to reduce your energy consumption.
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The
CARES Program
Duquesne Light’s CARES program helps customers unable
to pay their electric bills due to a temporary hardship. The
CARES program connects customers with resources located in
their own community. These community resources then help the
customer manage his/her problems.
How do I qualify for CARES?
What are the benefits to me of participating in CARES?
- Participants
in CARES can receive free referrals to assistance agencies
in the local community, such as a nonprofit organization or
social service agency.
- Participants in CARES can receive referrals to other
Duquesne Light Universal Service programs.
- Participants in CARES may receive special payment
arrangements depending on their payment history and on their
specific situation.
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Dollar Energy
Fund Hardship Fund Program
Duquesne’s Dollar Energy Fund hardship
fund program provides customers with cash assistance to help
pay down their outstanding balances. This program is operated
by Dollar Energy Fund, a nonprofit partner of Duquesne Light
Co.
What are the benefits of applying for a Dollar Energy Fund
grant?
If you qualify, you may receive up to $500 toward the
payment of your past due utility debt.
When can I request a
grant from Dollar Energy Fund?
- From October 1, 2008 through
February 28, 2009, if applicants are eligible and programs
are open, applicants must apply for LIHEAP and CRISIS before
applying for the Dollar Energy grant.
- From October 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008, only
customers whose service is off or in threat of termination
can apply for a grant.
- From December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009, only
customers whose service is off can apply for a grant.
- From February 1, 2009 through February 28, 2009,
only customers whose service is off or in threat of termination
can apply for a grant.
- Starting March 1, 2009, any eligible customer may
apply for a grant, regardless of service status.
How do I
qualify for a Dollar Energy Fund grant?
- If you qualify to
receive a LIHEAP grant from the Pennsylvania Department of
Public Welfare, then you must apply for one before you can
apply for a Dollar Energy Fund grant.
- You must reside in the household and have a household
income at or below 200% of the Federal poverty income guidelines
(click here to view
a table with the Federal poverty income guidelines).
- You must have $100 or more as a past due balance
($0 balance for those age 62 years and over).
- You must have paid at least $150 toward your bill
over the past 90 days ($100 for those age 62 years and over).
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