Duquesne Light Company Stops Underground Leak
Repairs to continue over the coming days
PITTSBURGH — Duquesne Light Company (DLC) has made temporary repairs to stop the underground cable leak that originated on Liberty Avenue in the Strip District on Monday, April 29. With no additional fluid escaping the cable, DLC expects the current freeze process to be complete within the next 12 to 24 hours, after which the company will begin making permanent repairs.
Prior to the leak being stopped, DLC was using a vacuum truck to remove the fluid. Approximately 47,000 gallons escaped in total.
“Now that we’ve reached this significant milestone, we can focus on completing a successful freeze so that permanent repairs can begin,” said John Hilderbrand II, vice president of operations at DLC. “I’m incredibly proud of our team for their safe, tireless work in getting us to this point. We remain greatly appreciative to the public for their patience and cooperation.”
River boats will continue to patrol the Allegheny and Ohio rivers over the coming days for any traces of the dielectric fluid, which is a clear, non-toxic, mineral-like liquid that presents a glossy-like sheen. Twelve booms also remain on both rivers to collect any fluid that may be present.
The public is still encouraged to report any signs of a clear yet frothy-like substance on the rivers or nearby waterways to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
Traffic update
• The outbound lanes of Liberty Avenue between 26th and 28th streets in the Strip will remain closed as work continues. A reopen date has not yet been determined.
• One of two inbound lanes will remain open to outbound traffic.
• Drivers and pedestrians are strongly encouraged to exercise caution in the work zone by:
o Adhering to safe, designated speed limits.
o Leaving ample space for crews to work.
o Staying behind all barriers and barricades.
About Duquesne Light Company
For more than 100 years, Duquesne Light Company has provided safe and reliable electric service to communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. Today, our core values of safety, integrity, dependability, equity and community enable us to serve more than 600,000 customers in two counties, including the city of Pittsburgh. We are committed to safely powering our customers’ lives while playing a leading role in our region’s clean energy transition. Our vision is to create a larger-than-light, clean energy future for all by delivering exceptional results today and boldly harnessing opportunities for tomorrow. In doing so, we can ensure a cleaner, healthier and more equitable community for generations to come. To learn more, visit DuquesneLight.com.