NEWS RELEASE
Date January 18, 2019
For Release Upon Receipt
Contact Ashlee Yingling
Telephone 412-430-3404
Duquesne Light Company Prepares for Severe Weather; More Than 200 Personnel At The Ready
Customers also reminded to prepare at home with safety tips
PITTSBURGH – Duquesne Light Company (DLC) personnel are preparing for the heavy snow and ice, high winds and freezing temperatures forecast for the Pittsburgh area this weekend. DLC is implementing its storm response plan, which includes increasing staff by bringing in additional lineworkers and contract tree clearance personnel as well as additional 24-hour operations and call center staff to help with restoration efforts, as needed. In total, DLC will have more than 200 field and support staff on-site for the onset of the weather.
“Duquesne Light closely monitors the path of any potentially severe weather in our area,” said Diane Holder, Director of Operations Center, Duquesne Light. “Our storm response team is on-call and ready to handle any power outages that may occur as a result of the heavy snow and ice expected in our area.”
DLC also reminds customers to prepare now for potential outages and damage caused by the winter storm. Along with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Communication, DLC encourages the following safety tips…
Before the storm:
- Make sure there are flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries in an easily accessible area.
- Periodically, check supplies of non-perishable foods, bottled water and medication. Try to keep a three-day supply on hand. Stock up if needed.
- Always have a first-aid kit with current supplies in a convenient location.
- In winter, have an alternate source of heating available, along with extra fuel, such as wood for wood-burning stoves and fireplaces.
- Know how to manually operate your garage door. If power is lost, your garage door opener will not work.
- Use surge suppressors to protect sensitive electronic equipment, such as computers. If you are home during a severe storm, you may want to unplug sensitive equipment.
- Check to ensure that elderly family members or friends who live alone are prepared for the weather.
During the storm:
- Report a power outage to DLC by calling 412-393-7000.
- Immediately report any power line hazards to DLC.
- Do not touch downed or hanging power lines or anything touching them.
- Monitor the status of power restoration activities on social media and local news.
- If there is severe damage and it appears that the outage will last an extended period of time, consider temporarily moving to an alternate location.
- Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48 hours if the doors remain closed. If the freezer is half full, the food will generally keep for 24 hours.
- Keep candles away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials. Also, keep children and pets away from open flames.
- Use a camp stove, fireplace or can of sterno for cooking. Don't use charcoal or any other fuels in unventilated areas.
- If you leave your home while the power is out, double-check that all heat producing appliances, such as stoves, irons and curling irons are unplugged.
Please report outages or any dangerous situations to Duquesne Light by calling 412-393-7000 or by visiting https://www.duquesnelight.com/.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next generation energy company, Duquesne Light Company’s nearly 1,500 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than a half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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