Duquesne Light Company Preparing for More Severe Weather in Pittsburgh Region
Another band of strong winds and rain expected on May 1; customers urged to stay away from downed lines and give ample space to lineworkers and field crews
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PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC), along with about 400 personnel from neighboring utility contractors, is continuing to work around the clock to restore power to about 130,000 customers after an unprecedented storm passed through the Pittsburgh region on Tuesday. The company is preparing for additional severe weather on Thursday afternoon, May 1, that could bring more strong winds and potential power outages. The National Weather Service is anticipating wind gusts nearing 60 mph; heavy rain; and possible hail and isolated tornadoes.
DLC still expects some customers to be out of power until Tuesday, May 6, but additional severe weather might delay restoration times and bring more outages to the service area. Since the onset of Tuesday’s storm, DLC has restored more than 60% of impacted customers.
Safety remains DLC’s top priority. The company continues to urge customers to stay away from downed wires, broken poles and other safety hazards. No one should approach a downed wire or any objects that are around or touching a wire, including puddles. The public should also give ample space to lineworkers and troubleshooters and report downed wires or other hazardous situations to DLC’s emergency number at 888-393-7000.
Safety Reminders and Resources
- Call 9-1-1 for any emergency medical issues.
- Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer to help preserve food.
- Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns for emergency lighting. Avoid using candles or other potential fire hazards.
- Keep generators far from buildings. Refrain from operating them in confined spaces, including garages.
- Check on elderly and vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors who might need additional assistance.
- Need to charge your phone? Visit a city of Pittsburgh recreational center. All recreation centers will be open until 10 p.m. on May 1 with the exception of Jefferson Rec Center.
Learn more about safety tips and how DLC responds to weather-related outages.
Restoration Process
When the extent of weather damage is widespread, DLC prioritizes restoration in this order:
- Public safety hazards
- Public health and safety facilities (critical customers)
- Major circuits
- Small neighborhoods/individual homes
Learn more about the company’s restoration priorities.
Report Outages
Due to the enormous scope of the storm’s impact, and to help the teams supporting DLC’s phone lines prioritize emergency situations, please report outages online by following these steps:
- Log in to your DLC account with your username and password.
- Select “Outages & Safety” from the Main Menu.
- Select “Report an Outage.”
- Review the entries in the form and select “Submit.”
For real-time outage updates, visit DuquesneLight.com/outages.
Avoid Scams
Be aware of bad actors who attempt to take advantage of difficult situations by portraying themselves as DLC employees or spreading misinformation. To stay safe:
- If you are unsure if you have received an authentic call from a DLC representative, hang up and call DLC at 888-393-7100 to verify the call. If you feel unsafe, call 9-1-1 immediately.
- If you determine the call was not authentic, report it to DLC by submitting a report online and also reporting it to your local police.
Learn more about how to avoid scams.
Customers can also follow DLC on X (@DuquesneLight) and Facebook (@DuquesneLight) for storm-related updates.