Duquesne Light Company Restores 130,000 after Friday’s High Winds
Partnering with out-of-state crews to brace for additional weather events
PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has restored power to more than 130,000 customers, representing approximately 80% of those impacted, within the first day of restoration efforts following high winds that moved through the Pittsburgh region Friday night into Saturday.
At its peak, this windstorm caused outages for approximately 163,000 customers across DLC’s service territory.
Most customers impacted by Friday’s windstorm are expected to be restored by 10 p.m. Monday, March 16, with many customers restored sooner. A small number of outages are due to extensive damage or involve repairs on private property. In those cases, restoration may extend beyond the current estimate.
Please refer to the outage map for updated restoration times.
Now that most critical customers (hospitals, police stations, utility companies, etc. prioritized as part of the “Restoration Process” defined below) have been restored, crews are focused on restoring residential areas connected to the largest circuits, followed by smaller neighborhoods and individual homes.
In addition, forecasted periods of sustained wind gusts from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening may cause additional outages or affect the pace of restoration. During sustained winds, overhead work (e.g., the use of bucket trucks and lifting equipment such as transformers, wires and setting poles) may be paused until conditions are safe.
Safety remains DLC’s top priority for employees, contractors and the public. Customers are reminded to stay away from downed power lines, broken poles and other electrical hazards, and to give crews plenty of space as restoration work continues.
Mutual Assistance
Mutual aid support was received from as far away as Canada as well as states across the East Coast and Southeast region of the U.S. These crews are expected to remain onsite through at least Tuesday, March 17.
The added crews will help accelerate restoration for already impacted customers while also ensuring we’re appropriately staffed should another weather event occur.
Supporting Customers Experiencing Prolonged Outages
To help support customers who continue to experience outages following this weekend’s high‑wind event, DLC has partnered with Giant Eagle to provide free water and ice at select locations. These items will be available while supplies last.
Beginning 8 p.m. Saturday, March 14, through Monday, March 16, customers who remain without power may pick up:
- One 24‑pack (16.9 oz) case of Giant Eagle water, and
- One 7‑lb. bag of ice
Customers can also find additional storm resources and frequently asked questions here.
DLC’s Restoration Process
When the extent of weather damage is widespread throughout the area, 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 DLC's restoration priorities.
Reporting Outages and Staying Informed
Customers are encouraged to report outages and hazardous conditions online at www.DuquesneLight.com or through DLC’s mobile app. Reporting outages online helps prioritize the most critical needs and allows phone lines to remain available for emergency situations.
For safety‑related emergencies, customers should call 9‑1‑1. Downed wires or other hazardous situations should be reported to DLC’s emergency number at 1-888‑393‑7000.
In the event of an outage, customers can check DLC’s outage map or its mobile app for up-to-date information. Customers can also sign up to receive alerts from DLC through their online account at DuquesneLight.com or the mobile app.
Customers are also encouraged to follow DLC on X (@DuquesneLight) and Facebook (@DuquesneLight) for additional updates.
DLC will continue to provide updates as restoration efforts progress.