Pittsburgh Energy Guide: Solar, Batteries, Backup Power and EV

In short: Pittsburgh homes are on Duquesne Light, whose customers paid about 21.7¢ per kWh in 2024, the highest of the big Pennsylvania utilities (EIA). On September 3, 2026, winds over 70 mph cut power to about 60,000 Duquesne customers, some for three days. Cranberry Township is on FirstEnergy’s Penn Power instead.

This page covers what is different around Pittsburgh: two utilities with very different outage records, the September storm, the city’s permit system and the region’s weaker sun. For statewide rules (net metering law, contractor registration and the changes under way at FirstEnergy), see our Pennsylvania energy guide.

Pittsburgh area at a glance

• Duquesne Light: serves Pittsburgh and most of Allegheny County, including Monroeville. Homes buying Duquesne’s own supply paid about 21.7¢ per kWh on average in 2024. Outages: 188 minutes per customer with major events, 127 without; 0.99 interruptions a year (EIA-861, 2024).
• FirstEnergy Pennsylvania: serves Cranberry Township as Penn Power and parts of the eastern suburbs as West Penn Power. Across all its Pennsylvania districts, homes paid about 17.4¢ per kWh and customers averaged 403 minutes of outages with major events, 221 without (EIA-861, 2024).
• Price to compare (October 2026): Duquesne 14.14¢, Penn Power 13.48¢ and West Penn Power 12.08¢ per kWh for regular home service, supply only (PAPowerSwitch, the Public Utility Commission’s shopping site).
• Small local utilities: the boroughs of Pitcairn, Tarentum and Zelienople and Central Electric Cooperative also serve parts of Allegheny and Butler counties (EIA-861).
• Sun: about 3.72 kWh per square meter per day (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,090 kWh a year per kW of panels, roughly 9% less than Philadelphia.
• Top hazards: FEMA’s National Risk Index (December 2025) rates Allegheny County “very high” for cold waves and ice storms, and “relatively high” for flooding, lightning, strong wind, tornadoes and winter weather.
• Public charging: 749 public ports at 322 locations in Pittsburgh, 71 in Monroeville and 32 listed under Cranberry Township (AFDC, October 3, 2026).

Your utility and what it means

Your bill names the wires company, and that company handles outages, solar interconnection and net metering, whoever sells you the electricity. Supply can be shopped on PAPowerSwitch. About one in five Duquesne households already bought supply from another company in 2024 (EIA). Duquesne’s price to compare climbed from 10.85¢ to 14.14¢ over the last few price periods listed on PAPowerSwitch, so it is worth checking offers.

• Duquesne Light, solar: net metering follows the state rules on our Pennsylvania page; at the end of the year, excess credit is paid at the price to compare. EIA counted 9,240 net-metered home solar systems on Duquesne’s grid in 2024.
• Duquesne Light, EVs: Duquesne lists a WholeHome EV rate, a time-based supply rate for EV owners that applies to the whole home’s usage. We could not open Duquesne’s website to confirm current prices and terms, so check its EV pages directly.
• Penn Power and West Penn Power (FirstEnergy): small inverter-based systems of 10 kW or less use FirstEnergy’s simplest (Level 1) interconnection application. After installation you send proof of an electrical inspection by an authorized inspection agency before the system is switched on (FirstEnergy). FirstEnergy has also proposed net metering changes; see the state page.

Backup power in Pittsburgh

Duquesne’s normal-day number, 127 minutes, is higher than PECO’s in Philadelphia, and the hills and old trees of Allegheny County make wind storms costly. On the evening of September 3, 2026, gusts above 70 mph brought down trees and lines across Allegheny and Beaver counties and left about 60,000 Duquesne customers in the dark. Crews restored about 50,000 by the next evening with help from more than 250 mutual-assistance workers from Alabama, Florida, New York and Quebec, but Duquesne expected the last customers back only by 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 6 (Duquesne Light). Plan for a two- or three-day outage, not just an evening.

FEMA’s “very high” rating for ice storms and cold waves matters too: a winter outage stops a gas furnace’s blower, and many older Pittsburgh houses have basement sump pumps. A home battery can carry the furnace, sump pump, fridge and lights through a short outage. For days, a generator on a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician is more dependable. A portable power station covers phones, Wi-Fi and a CPAP. Duquesne itself tells customers to keep generators far from buildings and never run them in garages; the CPSC says at least 20 feet away, exhaust pointed away from windows, doors and vents. Compare in backup power, size with the generator sizing tool or battery backup calculator, and read generator installation.

Solar in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s sky is cloudier than eastern Pennsylvania’s: about 1,090 kWh a year per kW of panels by our rough estimate, and December sun is about a fifth of June’s. Panels still work in winter, but production is seasonal, so net metering’s monthly credits carry summer surplus into the darker months. What helps the numbers is price: Duquesne customers paid the most per kWh of any large Pennsylvania utility in 2024, and every kWh your panels make is one you don’t buy. Steep, shaded lots are common here, so get a site check before you trust any estimate. Try the solar potential tool and the solar savings calculator with a real quote, and read solar installation and net metering explained.

Batteries in Pittsburgh

We found no confirmed battery rebate from Duquesne or FirstEnergy for homes, so around Pittsburgh a battery is bought for backup. The September storm is the case for one: a battery that switches on by itself keeps the sump pump and furnace running while you wait for the crews. Pair it with solar to recharge during a long outage. Ask the installer for a load list showing what the battery will run and for how long. See home battery installation and battery cost.

EV charging in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has more public charging than Philadelphia: 749 public ports at 322 locations, against 517 in Philadelphia (AFDC, October 3, 2026). Monroeville adds 71. At home, a Level 2 charger needs a 240 V circuit, a licensed electrician and an electrical permit. Cold winters cut range, so a garage or covered spot helps. If you are a Duquesne customer, compare its WholeHome EV rate with the standard price to compare before you choose a supplier. Estimate costs with the EV charging calculator and read EV charger installation.

Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Pittsburgh: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.

Permits and inspections

• Pittsburgh: the city’s Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections issues permits through the OneStopPGH portal. Its Electrical Permit page lists ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar arrays and exterior generators as permit work; roof-mounted solar is limited to buildings with a valid certificate of occupancy. Work on one- and two-family homes uses a residential permit.
• Cranberry Township and Monroeville: each issues its own permits under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code, with its own staff or a certified third-party agency (Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry).
• Utility: solar and grid-tied batteries need Duquesne’s or FirstEnergy’s approval before they are switched on; installers usually file it.
• Licenses and HOAs: electricians are licensed locally in Pennsylvania, so ask your municipality what it requires, and get HOA approval in writing before you sign.

Cities we cover

• Pittsburgh
• Cranberry Township
• Monroeville

Get help

Tell us about your project and we will connect you with a licensed, independent installer who serves the Pittsburgh area. It is free, there is no obligation, and only the installer you choose gets your details. Read how it works.

Pittsburgh energy FAQ

How long did the September 2026 Pittsburgh outage last?

The storm hit on the evening of Thursday, September 3, and cut power to about 60,000 Duquesne Light customers. By Friday night all but about 8,700 were back, and Duquesne expected everyone restored by 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 6.

Is solar worth it in Pittsburgh with less sun?

It can be. Pittsburgh gets about 9% less sun than Philadelphia by NASA data, but Duquesne customers paid the highest average home price of Pennsylvania’s big utilities in 2024. Shade and roof direction matter more than the city average, so compare a site-specific quote with your own bill.

Which utility serves Cranberry Township?

Penn Power, part of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, not Duquesne Light. Its price to compare for regular home service was 13.48¢ per kWh in October 2026, and FirstEnergy’s interconnection and net metering process applies to solar there.

Can I choose my electricity supplier in Pittsburgh?

Yes. Duquesne Light or FirstEnergy still delivers the power and restores outages, but you can buy supply from a licensed supplier. Compare offers with your utility’s price to compare on PAPowerSwitch, the Public Utility Commission’s official site, and read the contract term and any cancellation fee.

Do I need a permit for a generator in Pittsburgh?

A standby generator wired to the house does: the city lists exterior generators among electrical permit work, handled through OneStopPGH. A transfer switch must be installed by a licensed electrician. A portable generator used only with extension cords outdoors does not connect to house wiring.

Sources

Utilities, prices, outages, supplier customers and solar counts: U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA-861 data for 2024. Price to compare: PAPowerSwitch, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (read October 3, 2026). September 2026 storm: Duquesne Light news releases of September 3 to 5, 2026. FirstEnergy Pennsylvania interconnection page. City of Pittsburgh Permits, Licenses and Inspections, Electrical Permit page. Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Uniform Construction Code. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Charging: Alternative Fuels Data Center, October 3, 2026. Generator safety: CPSC.