Woman Shocked After Getting $900 Electric Bill In Mail

BEAVER FALLS (KDKA) -- When Cindy Landman turns on her light switch, she doesn't expect to get an electric bill for $916.81 from Duquesne Light.

"Last month, I get my bill and sat here and almost had chest pains. They said I owed $200 on the budget amount," Duquesne Light customer Cindy Landman said.

Landman's meter at her home in Beaver Falls was recently replaced with a smart meter in October. Her bill has remained steady from month to month, but she noticed a major hike on her bill after her meter was switched.

"It was supposed to be a smart meter, but apparently, it's a dumb meter from Duquesne Light," Landman said.

Landman is on a fixed budget, and normally pays $64 a month for her electric. She has a brand new furnace and whole house air conditioner and lives alone, so this hike didn't make any sense in her mind. She called Duquesne Light and talked to several representatives and got nowhere.

"She said I would have to pay $200 or my service would be terminated," Landman said. "I said that's a lousy Christmas present. I didn't put any Christmas lights out."

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Landman called the Public Utility Commission to file a complaint and is still waiting to hear back from them.

"I don't use $914 worth of electricity in a whole year," Landman said.

KDKA's Amy Wadas talked to a spokesperson with Duquesne Light on Monday. They are checking to see if other customers are having the same billing issues since their meters were switched over to Smart Meters. We're waiting to hear back.