DQE Duquesne LT Hldgs

New Energy-Assistance Programs for Winter of 2005-2006 Part of Governor's 'Stay Warm' Efforts PITTSBURGH, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan O'Brien, Duquesne Light president and chief executive officer, today announced the addition of five programs designed to extend the safety net for low-income and working poor families and seniors during the winter of 2005-2006. These initiatives, to become effective Dec. 1, 2005, will: - Provide all disconnected customers below 250 percent of the poverty level a $150 credit from Duquesne Light that will enable them to have their electric service reconnected for the heating season. - Help customers whose incomes are up to 200 percent of the poverty level use the $150 credit from Duquesne Light to access up to $1,000 in additional energy assistance. - Provide other working poor customers credits of up to $150 to offset arrearages on their accounts. Eligible customers are encouraged to apply for the programs by Dec. 31, 2005. (Income guidelines are provided on page 3 of this news announcement.) With utilities across the state joining Gov. Ed Rendell in his "Stay Warm" initiatives, Duquesne Light designed the programs to protect low-income Pennsylvania residents who may have problems paying their utility bills this winter. In combination with a cap on Duquesne Light's electric supply rates, these programs should provide needed security for customers as the winter advances. "Perhaps the best protection for Duquesne Light residential customers is the fact that our generation rates are fixed through the end of 2007," O'Brien said. "These additional energy assistance programs will help assure that our customers are connected to a safe, reliable source of electricity at stable rates as the cold weather arrives." The new energy assistance programs include: - Stay Warm 150 - Customers whose service is off and whose income is 150 percent, or less, of the federal poverty level, will receive a one-time credit of $150. With a successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, all customers in this category will be reconnected. Duquesne Light's credit of $150 also could allow these customers to access additional Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)/Crisis and Dollar Energy Fund grants of up to $1,000. These customers also will be enrolled in the company's customer assistance program (CAP), which forgives arrears over time and lowers the monthly payment, based on the ability to pay. - Stay Warm Senior 200 - Senior customers (62 years of age or older) whose service is off and whose income is 200 percent, or less, of the federal poverty level will receive a one-time credit of $150. With a successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, Duquesne Light will reconnect all customers in this category. The company's $150 credit also will allow these customers to access additional grants of up to $500. These customers also will be enrolled in Duquesne Light's CAP. - Stay Warm 200 - "Working poor" customers, whose service is off and whose income is between 150 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level, will receive a one-time credit of $150. With a successful application for a Dollar Energy Fund grant, all customers in this category will be reconnected. Duquesne Light's credit of $150 also will allow these customers to access additional grants of up to $500. - Stay Warm 250 - "Working poor" customers, whose service is off and whose income is between 200 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level, will receive a one-time credit of $150, once income verification has been completed, and will be reconnected. - Stay Warm Plus 150 - Customers whose service is on, whose income is 150 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and who have an arrearage (other than the current month's bill), will receive matching credits up to a total of $150 during the winter months of December 2005, January 2006, February 2006 and March 2006, for any payment made by the customer to reduce the arrearage. Customers registering for the Stay Warm Plus 150 program should call 412-393-7200. For more information on any of the other Stay Warm programs, call Duquesne Light's Universal Services Center at 1-888-393-7600, or click the "Stay Warm" button on duquesnelight.com. Eligible customers can apply for these special programs for the winter of 2005-2006 at one of 10 community-based organizations or at Duquesne Light's walk-in office at 708 Smithfield St. (in the block between Seventh and Liberty avenues in downtown Pittsburgh). The community-based organizations (see attached list on page 3 of this news announcement) help Duquesne Light cost-effectively ensure that payment- troubled customers on a limited or fixed income have access to affordable energy. These agencies also enable Duquesne Light customers to apply for energy assistance in communities close to where they live. In addition to these new initiatives and its customer assistance program, Duquesne Light offers a wide range of support year-round to payment-troubled customers. For more information on these programs, click on the "Need Help Paying Energy Bills" button at duquesnelight.com. About Duquesne Light Company Duquesne Light Company (NYSE:DQE) is a leader in the transmission and distribution of electric energy, offering superior customer service and reliability to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania. Duquesne Light "Stay Warm" Program Contact Agencies Holy Family Institute 211 N. Whitfield St. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (East Liberty) (412) 361-2583 Holy Family Institute 1789 S. Braddock Ave. Suite 585 Pittsburgh, PA 15218 (Swissvale) (412) 244-8010 Holy Family Institute Northside Common Ministries 1601 Brighton Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (North Side) (412) 322-6588 Holy Family Institute 19 May St. McKees Rocks, PA 15136 (412) 331-8665 Goodwill Industries 2600 East Carson St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (South Side) (412) 390-2313 Goodwill Industries Peoples Building 301 Fifth Ave. McKeesport, PA 15132 (412) 664-1967 Goodwill Industries Rochester Plaza 750 Ohio River Blvd. Rochester, PA 15074 (724) 775-6768 Catholic Charities 212 Ninth St. 8th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (Downtown) (412) 456-6913 Catholic Charities 1260 Broadhead Rd. Suite 108 Monaca, PA 15061 (724) 775-0758 North Hills Community Outreach 223 North Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (Millvale) (412) 821-0904 Monthly Federal Poverty Guidelines Effective 4-1-05 Household 150 % 200 % 250 % Size 1 $1,196 $1,595 $1,993 2 $1,604 $2,138 $2,673 3 $2,011 $2,682 $3,350 4 $2,419 $3,225 $4,030 5 $2,826 $3,768 $4,710 6 $3,234 $4,312 $5,388 7 $3,641 $4,855 $6,068 8 $4,049 $5,398 $6,748 For Each Person Add: $408 $543 $678 DATASOURCE: Duquesne Light Company CONTACT: Joe Balaban of Duquesne Light Company, +1-412-232-6848 Web site: http://www.duquesnelight.com/

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