SW Pa. to get new area code

Associated Press

HARRISBURG

Telephone calling is about to get more complicated in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The state Public Utility Commission said Friday that growing demand for telephone numbers means a new 878 area code soon will be assigned to customers within what is now the 724 area code.

PUC spokeswoman Denise McCracken says the first numbers with an 878 area code could be issued in about two months but maybe not for a year, depending on when the 724 numbers are exhausted.

The 724 area code covers some or all of 14 counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clinton, Crawford, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington and Westmoreland.

The 412 area code covers most of Allegheny County and small portions of Washington and Westmoreland County.

No immediate changes are anticipated in the 412 area code, which covers primarily the city of Pittsburgh, although the 878 is scheduled to be extended there once the 412 numbers are exhausted, according to the PUC.