Storm FAQs

Visit our Outage Map.

Customers should immediately report downed wires, accidents involving utility poles/power lines or any other hazardous situations to DLC’s emergency line at 888-393-7000. Be prepared to give the DLC team an approximate address and a description of the hazard.

We strongly encourage you to exercise caution and maintain at least 30 feet of distance from downed power lines. Allow DLC to handle hazardous situations and give ample space to our crews as they perform critical work.

Never approach downed wires; always keep a safe distance. Consider all downed wires as live and dangerous. Find more information here.

If you're unsure which utility is responsible for the line, call us at 888-393-7000 and we'll investigate.   

Refrigerated food should be safe for about four hours without power. A half-full freezer will stay frozen for about 24 hours. A full, free-standing freezer will keep food at freezing temperatures for about 48 hours without power. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.  When in doubt, throw it out. 

Check medications that require refrigeration to be sure you know if they will be affected by a prolonged interruption of power. Consult a doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure. Utilize a small cooler to store medication that requires refrigeration. 

Obtain dry ice or block ice if your power is going to be out for a prolonged period. 50 pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot freezer for two days. (Caution: Do not touch dry ice with bare hands or place it in direct contact with food.) 

Proper food safety measures are crucial after a power outage to prevent foodborne illnesses. For additional food safety information, contact the USDA at 202-720-2791 or visit their webpage for tips.

As of May 5th at 4:00 p.m. 98% of customers impacted  by severe weather on Tuesday April 29th have been restored. About 8,000 customers remain out of service from the initial weather on April 29 while the other ~9,000 customers are without service due to additional severe weather that impacted southwestern Pennsylvania over the last week

DLC restores power according to the following priority order:

1) Public safety hazards 
2) Public health and safety facilities
3) Major circuits
4) Small neighborhoods and individual homes.

We continue to assess extensive damage. Restoration may involve many different skillsets and equipment. For example, a tree may damage poles, wires or other equipment. Steps involved to restore service include locating and assessing the damage, clearing the debris, removing and replacing a broken pole and energizing the wires. Once all damage is assessed, we will have more individualized restoration times to provide.

If you don’t have power, and your neighbor does, you could have a nested outage. Nested outages happen when DLC fixes the main issue but then we find a smaller, localized one. For example, the line, or other equipment tied to your home or business, is damaged. This issue can cause you to receive a restoration notification even though you are still without power. We may not know your power remains out and it is important that you submit an outage report at DuquesneLight.com/outage or use the DLC Mobile App so that we can initiate repair work. 

Another reason your neighbor could have power is because they are on a separate circuit than you. Their power is fed to them by different equipment.  

Multiple crews, such as damage assessment, tree removal and overhead line repair, are sometimes needed to address your outage which may cause your status to change as they deploy additional resources. Crews continuously assess damage, uncover hidden issues, and shift priorities based on safety, restoration prioritization and available resources. Severe weather, complex repairs, and unexpected delays mean restoration timelines evolve to ensure the quickest and safest return of power. 

If you received a message that your outage was restored, but your power is still out, it is because updates or restorations have been made in your area. Be sure to check your breaker panel or fuse box first. If your power is still out, you MUST report it again.

There are several possible reasons why your power remains out. In some cases, you may experience a secondary outage after power was restored.  Additionally, as part of our repair process, we may need to temporarily de-energize a circuit to complete further work. Given the severity of this unprecedented storm outages may also result from falling branches, debris, or additional storm activity.

There are several reasons why you could experience a subsequent outage after already being restored.  As part of our restoration process, there may be times where we may need to de-energize a circuit to make additional repairs. With the extent of this unprecedented storm, additional outages could also occur from falling branches, debris, and more storm activity.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 9-1-1 immediately.  

DLC is not responsible for weather-related damages, including food loss. Customers should contact their renters or homeowners insurance to determine if their policies cover such losses. If you are experiencing food loss due to power outages or damage caused by Tuesday's severe storms, there are several organizations stepping up to help: 

SNAP Benefits Replacement: If you use SNAP benefits and have lost food due to the storms, you may be eligible for up to one month's worth of replacement benefits. For more detailed information and assistance, please refer to the flyer from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services or visit their official website.

Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank provides resources for customers experiencing food loss due to outages.  

Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania has deployed Emergency Disaster Services teams in Munhall, Braddock, and East Pittsburgh to help distribute meals and equipment to those left without power. Call 2-1-1 or 800-725-2769 for more information.  

Individuals still experiencing a power outage can seek shelter at one of the various City of Pittsburgh centers listed below for device charging and other power needs:

• Senior Community Center

• Recreation Center

• Family Centers

Be aware of bad actors who attempt to take advantage of difficult situations by portraying themselves as DLC employees or spreading misinformation.

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 report it to your local police.

Learn more about how to avoid scams.

Allow DLC to handle hazardous situations and give ample space to crews as they perform critical work. Fallen power lines can be extremely dangerous and require the attention of a qualified professional. 

Check on family members, friends and neighbors who live alone. They may not be able to report an outage or call emergency services if they have lost power. 

Due to the enormous scope of the storm's impact and to help the teams supporting our phone lines prioritize the most critical situations, please report outages online by following these steps: 
1. Login to your DLC account with your username and password 
2. Select “Outages & Safety” from the Main Menu 
3. Select “Report an Outage” 
4. Review the entries in the form and select “Submit”