Pennsylvania approves pilot letting downtown Pittsburgh office-to-housing conversions keep commercial electrical service
A Duquesne Light pilot, in effect since August 27, lets publicly funded conversions with affordable units meter apartments behind existing 277/480-volt commercial service instead of rebuilding it.
Developers converting downtown Pittsburgh office and commercial buildings into apartments can now meter each unit without rebuilding the building's commercial electrical service, provided the project carries public funding with an affordable housing component. On August 27, 2026, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (the “PUC”) allowed Duquesne Light Company's Rider No. 24, the Commercial to Residential Conversion Pilot, to take effect that day, in Duquesne Light Co., Supplement No. 106 to Tariff Electric – Pa. P.U.C. No. 25, Docket No. R-2026-3063446 (Pa. P.U.C. Aug. 27, 2026), without suspending the filing or opening an investigation.
Duquesne Light Co., Supplement No. 106 to Tariff Electric – Pa. P.U.C. No. 25, Docket No. R-2026-3063446 (Pa. P.U.C. Aug. 27, 2026); Duquesne Light Co., Tariff Electric – Pa. P.U.C. No. 25, Rider No. 24, Original Page Nos. 141C–141E