Utility comparison
West Penn Power vs Duquesne Light electricity rates
You don't choose your utility — your address does.West Penn Power and Duquesne Light serve different, adjacent parts of southwestern Pennsylvania (Duquesne Light is the Pittsburgh metro; West Penn Power surrounds it). As of June 1, 2026, West Penn Power's Price to Compare is 12.075¢/kWh and Duquesne Light's is 14.14¢/kWh. You can't switch between the two utilities — but in either territory you can choose your supplierand beat that benchmark. Here's how the two compare, and how to shop within whichever one serves you.
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Written by John Spencer
Updated June 2026
Free comparison · No credit check required · 2,572 plans from PA suppliers
What you're actually comparing
West Penn Power and Duquesne Light are neighbors, not competitors: their territories sit side by side in southwestern Pennsylvania, and your address decides which one delivers your power. You can't pick between them. What you can do — in either territory — is choose a competitive supplier and beat your utility's default rate.
- Duquesne Light customers in the Pittsburgh metro — Allegheny County and parts of Beaver County (~434,000 residential customers, per the EIA)
- West Penn Power customersin the surrounding southwestern and north-central PA region (Greensburg, Washington, Uniontown, Butler) — FirstEnergy's largest Pennsylvania service territory by area
The 2.07¢/kWh gap in their default rates exists because they're separate companies: West Penn Power is a FirstEnergy subsidiary, Duquesne Light is independent. Each sets its default supply rate — the Price to Compare — through its own PA PUC-overseen procurement.
West Penn Power
Owner
FirstEnergy Corporation
Customers
Largest FirstEnergy PA territory by area
Service area
Southwestern & north-central PA (Greensburg, Washington, Uniontown, Butler) — around Pittsburgh, not the city itself
PTC updates
Quarterly
Duquesne Light
Owner
Duquesne Light Holdings (independent)
Customers
~434,000 (EIA)
Service area
Pittsburgh metro — Allegheny County and parts of Beaver County
PTC updates
Semi-annual
How the default rates compare in practice
Both figures are the Price to Compare (the supply benchmark), effective June 1, 2026. Remember: you can't move between utilities to capture the lower one — this shows what each territory's default costs, and why shopping your supplier matters.
At 850 kWh/month (average PA usage)
West Penn Power supply cost
$102.64/mo
Duquesne Light supply cost
$120.19/mo
Difference
$17.55/mo
~$211/year
At 1,200 kWh/month (high usage)
West Penn Power supply cost
$144.90/mo
Duquesne Light supply cost
$169.68/mo
Difference
$24.78/mo
~$297/year
Duquesne Light has the higher default rate of the two — and one of the highest in Pennsylvania — so its customers have the most headroom to save by switching. But what decides your bill isn't which territory you're in; it's whether you're on the default rate or a competitive supplier.
Best electricity plans in each territory
Compare the top-rated plans available to West Penn Power and Duquesne Light customers, sorted by rate. Each saves against its own utility's benchmark.
Best West Penn Power plans (May 2026)
American Power & Gas of Pennsylvania LLC
Our famous 25% rebate is available to all of our customers. We have sent out over $2,400,000 in rebates this year! Are you getting one? Interested in upgrading to 100% green energy for an additional 3 cents? Call us to learn more!
Available in West Penn Power territory
Cirro Energy
Choose the Smart Flex PS 3 plan to lock in a fixed electricity rate for 3 months and take control of your electricity bill. This plan is for new customers only who enroll via the Web.
Available in West Penn Power territory
American Power & Gas of Pennsylvania LLC
This offer is exclusively for new customers only*. Switch to our electric plan today and enjoy the freedom of a 3-month fixed rate that gives you short-term flexibility! This plan has no cancellation …
Available in West Penn Power territory
Public Power, LLC
With a fixed rate from Public Power, you'll get the peace of mind knowing your rate stays the same for 6 months. Special offer for new, online customers.
Available in West Penn Power territory
Public Power, LLC
With a fixed rate from Public Power, you'll get the peace of mind knowing your rate stays the same for 12 months. Special offer for new, online customers.
Available in West Penn Power territory
West Penn Power customers can save by switching from the 12.075¢ default rate. The best fixed-rate plan is 9.49¢/kWh — 21% below default.
Best Duquesne Light plans (May 2026)
American Power & Gas of Pennsylvania LLC
Our famous 25% rebate is available to all of our customers. We have sent out over $2,400,000 in rebates this year! Are you getting one? Interested in upgrading to 100% green energy for an additional 3 cents? Call us to learn more!
Available in Duquesne Light Co territory
Clearview Energy
ClearGuarantee24Plus: 24 Month fixed rate term with a base fee of $19.99. For more details on this product, please call us at 1-888-512-8994 or visit us at www.clearviewenergy.com.
Available in Duquesne Light Co territory
Cirro Energy
Choose the Smart Flex PS 3 plan to lock in a fixed electricity rate for 3 months and take control of your electricity bill. This plan is for new customers only who enroll via the Web.
Available in Duquesne Light Co territory
Clearview Energy
ClearGuarantee6Plus: 6 Month fixed rate term with a base fee of $19.99. For more details on this product, please call us at 1-888-512-8994 or visit us at www.clearviewenergy.com.
Available in Duquesne Light Co territory
American Power & Gas of Pennsylvania LLC
This offer is exclusively for new customers only*. Switch to our electric plan today and enjoy the freedom of a 3-month fixed rate that gives you short-term flexibility! This plan has no cancellation …
Available in Duquesne Light Co territory
Duquesne Light customers can save by switching from the 14.140¢ default rate. The best fixed-rate plan is 10.79¢/kWh — 24% below default.
Why the two utilities have different rates
Unlike some Pennsylvania utility pairs that share a parent company, West Penn Power and Duquesne Light are separate businesses — West Penn Power is one of FirstEnergy's four PA utilities, while Duquesne Light is independently owned. Three factors drive the rate difference:
- Separate ownership and rate cases. Each files its own rate case with the PA PUC and procures default-service power through its own auctions, with different timing and hedging.
- Different reset cadence.West Penn Power updates its Price to Compare quarterly (March, June, September, December); Duquesne Light updates semi-annually (June and December). So the two benchmarks move on different schedules — West Penn Power's current rate runs through August 31, Duquesne Light's through November 30.
- Different territories and load. Duquesne Light serves the dense Pittsburgh metro; West Penn Power serves a larger, more spread-out region around it. Different load profiles feed into different procurement costs.
For the full breakdown of each current benchmark, see the West Penn Power Price to Compare update and the Duquesne Light Price to Compare update.
Which territory's customers benefit more from switching
Duquesne Light customers face the higher default rate at 14.14¢/kWh, so they have more room to save against their benchmark. West Penn Power customers start from a lower 12.075¢ baseline but can still find meaningful savings in the competitive market. Either way, the comparison that matters is your utility's Price to Compare versus the best clean, fixed-rate offer in your territory.
| Utility | Default (PTC) | Best fixed rate | Annual savings (850 kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Penn Power | 12.075¢ | 9.49¢ | $264 |
| Duquesne Light | 14.14¢ | 10.79¢ | $342 |
What's the same across both utilities
- Same wholesale market (PJM Interconnection)
- Same legal right to switch suppliers in Pennsylvania
- Same utility/supplier separation (utility handles delivery and outages, supplier handles generation)
- Same bill structure (delivery + supply + fees)
- Same Price to Compare benchmark concept — only the number and reset schedule differ
New to shopping in Pennsylvania? Start with the Pennsylvania electricity hub or our Price to Compare guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I choose between West Penn Power and Duquesne Light?
No. You don't choose your utility — your address determines it. Duquesne Light serves the Pittsburgh metro (Allegheny County and parts of Beaver County); West Penn Power serves the surrounding southwestern and north-central PA region. What you CAN choose, in either territory, is your electricity supplier — the company that provides the generation portion of your bill. This page compares the two utilities so you understand your benchmark, then shop your supplier within whichever territory you're in.
Which has cheaper rates, West Penn Power or Duquesne Light?
As of June 1, 2026, West Penn Power's Price to Compare is 12.075¢/kWh and Duquesne Light's is 14.14¢/kWh — so West Penn Power's default supply rate is about 2.07¢/kWh lower. But this isn't a choice you can act on: you can't move from Duquesne to West Penn Power to get the lower rate, because your utility is fixed by where you live. What matters for your bill is whether you beat your own utility's benchmark by choosing a competitive supplier.
Why do West Penn Power and Duquesne Light have different rates?
They're separate companies with separate regulators-approved procurement. West Penn Power is a FirstEnergy subsidiary; Duquesne Light is independent (Duquesne Light Holdings). Each files its own rate case with the PA PUC and runs its own default-service auctions, and they reset on different schedules — West Penn Power quarterly (March, June, September, December), Duquesne Light semi-annually (June, December). Different ownership, different procurement, different load profiles.
Can I switch electricity suppliers in both territories?
Yes. Both West Penn Power and Duquesne Light are in Pennsylvania's deregulated market, so customers in either territory can choose a competitive supplier. Your utility still delivers the power and handles outages; only the supply (generation) charge changes. The benchmark to beat is your own utility's Price to Compare — 12.075¢ in West Penn Power territory, 14.14¢ in Duquesne Light territory.
What happens if I move between the two territories?
You'll set up service with the utility serving your new address — Duquesne Light if you move into the Pittsburgh core, West Penn Power if you move to the surrounding region. Your supplier contract doesn't automatically follow; if your supplier serves both territories you may be able to transfer, otherwise you'll choose a new supplier at the new address.
Related resources
West Penn Power utility page
Plans and rates in WPP territory
Duquesne Light utility page
Plans and rates in Duquesne territory
West Penn Power PTC update
Current rate analysis
Duquesne Light PTC update
Current rate analysis
Price to Compare explained
The PA benchmark every shopper should know
How to switch suppliers
Step-by-step guide
How we gather this information
We pull supplier plan data directly from PA Power Switch, the official Pennsylvania PUC shopping website. Our automated system refreshes this data weekly.
Utility default rates (Price to Compare) come from official utility filings with the PA PUC, effective June 1, 2026. Plans are sorted by rate with no paid placements.
Ready to compare rates?
Whether you're in West Penn Power or Duquesne Light territory, switching to a competitive supplier can save you money.
2,572 plans across PA · Updated June 2026