Latest news with #DuquesneLight
CBS News
25-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Millvale business shares warning after being target of electric bill scam
A Millvale business has a warning for others after it was the target of an electricity scam. It was the middle of the Wednesday rush at Compass Point Coffee in Millvale when owner Eric Hodos said he got a call from someone claiming to be from Duquesne Light. "At that moment, I was like, oh, we have to solve this because they come and turn our power off, we're going to lose revenue for the next couple of days," said Hodos. Hodos said the person on the phone told him he owed nearly $2,000 and crews were coming to shut off service unless the remaining balance was paid immediately. He then called his business partner. "I said, look, we're on it. She is calling the billing department right now. He says here's the number, have her call this number. So, she called that number, and they answered with Duquesne Light." But something still didn't seem right. She checked the electric bill and told Hodos they were even; no money was owed. He called the number back and asked to speak to a manager. That is when the scheme was uncovered. "He said I'll transfer you to my manager, and when it went there, it was some random, it was like you've reached John," Hodos said. KDKA called both numbers. The one for billing was disconnected, and the other went to a Phoenix-based bus company. Hodos said he's heard of another Millave business experiencing the same thing. "We want to make sure people don't fall prey to this," he said. "It sounded very legitimate. It sounded very real. They [prey] on your fears, and they want you to react." Duquesne Light encourages people to always check their bill first and call it directly. The company said that before the power is shut off, multiple notices are sent.
CBS News
24-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Pittsburgh leaders hold hearing on emergency response and readiness for severe weather
The intense windstorm that hit western Pennsylvania in April is still on the minds of Pittsburgh officials and emergency responders. They met for a hearing on emergency response and readiness on Wednesday, when they discussed the challenges they faced and what they're hoping to improve before the next severe weather event. Some emergency officials said what swept through the Pittsburgh region on April 29 was the worst storm they've seen in their careers. The system caused widespread power outages, and many lasted for days. "This storm really only lasted about 10 minutes, was really the duration of this storm to do all this damage," said Alan Hausman with Pittsburgh's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger, who called for Wednesday's hearing, said it was an opportunity to understand how the city prepared, how it responded, what challenges it faced, what lessons were learned and what improvements are necessary moving forward. Emergency leaders shared some problems they faced, including safety concerns with power lines down in fallen trees. "We could not send [Department of Public Works] units out to those areas to start clearing those trees until we knew for a fact deenergized," said Adam Ameel, Pittsburgh's Deputy Emergency Management coordinator. "And it's not just a matter of knowing that they're denenergized, but they're coordinated with Duquesne Light, so they're not reenergized while they're working on them." Phone systems were also clogged that day. "There was mention that our 911 operations were not operational that day, which couldn't be further from the truth. We were completely operational. What had happened was the immense call volume that came through in such a short amount of time overwhelmed the state's 911 phone system, and I've conferred with the PEMA about this," said Chief Matthew Brown of Allegheny County Emergency Services. "We saw over 6,700 calls for service to Allegheny County 911 in an hour. One minute in that hour, we saw over 1,000 calls." There were also high numbers of people needing oxygen. "This medical grade oxygen caught us all off-guard, not thinking that over the years so many people who were reliant on oxygen have converted to these electrically driven oxygen generators," Brown said. "We got a tremendous number of calls of people who were losing their oxygen concentrators, they weren't functioning, they didn't charge their batteries the day before, they had oxygen in those but didn't have regulators for them. What we were able to do was take the oxygen we keep in our mass casualty unit, immediately get those out to those folks and put a rapid response unit together," Hausman said. Officials said they also dealt with power outages at city facilities. "Some of the things that we thing we can improve on, one, is hardening the city's facilities. We had fire departments and fire stations, EMS stations, and police stations out of power for an extended amount of time," said Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Chief Darryl Jones, who is also the city's emergency management coordinator. "Which we're developing a plan for how we can improve that, whether it is a mission-ready package that we deploy generators to those facilities, or we have actual built-in generators," Pittsburgh's Director of Public Safety Lee Schmidt said. Chief Jones said they did a complete after-action review to identify what worked well and what needs improvement; and they'll be working to make those improvements for the next bad storm. "The goal of this hearing is not only to learn from the storm but to build a stronger, more resilient city and system that protects all Pittsburghers, particularly our most vulnerable neighbors," Strassburger said. Strassburger told KDKA the last portion of the meeting focused on future planning and next steps. She also said Chief Jones would be sending the post-event report to council, clarity around internal communication with council before and during an emergency, and possible emergency preparedness training for council members and staff. Strassburger said Councilwoman Barb Warwick has called for a separate post-agenda hearing about Duquesne Light's response, and that'll happen at a later date.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Heavy rain hits Pittsburgh area, leading to flash flooding in Carnegie
Storms pounded the area again and left a mess for many across the region. Not only did the storm send water gushing down roads in Carnegie, but it also knocked out power, forcing Duquesne Light crews to come out and address the situation. It looked like a creek that overflowed its banks along Rosslyn Road in Carnegie. Just one problem: there's no creek there. That's just how much water was rushing down the hill after buckets poured from the sky early in the workday. People who work nearby told KDKA-TV it was around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday when the rushing water came cascading down the hillside, dumping debris and blasting into anything in its path. It poured along the retaining wall, through parking lots and into the street. Cars were driving on the wrong side of the road to avoid the hazard as they climbed up the hill. To make matters worse, power started sparking and eventually it went out. Nearby businesses shut down for the day and nearby neighbors were left without power after the storm. By the afternoon, it dried up, but debris was left behind, posing a few hazards for drivers. It ended up being passable. Duquesne Light crews were out working on several utility poles to get the lights back on. Their outage map says people should get their power back this evening.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Duquesne Light says Wednesday's severe weather, extreme heat could lead to power outages
Duquesne Light said Wednesday's severe weather and extreme heat could lead to power outages in the Pittsburgh area. In a news release on Tuesday, Duquesne Light said it is preparing for the potential severe weather on Wednesday, when wind gusts could reach between 60-70 miles per hour. KDKA First Alert Meteorologist Ron Smiley said rain will be spotty, but those who see it will see downpours that could potentially lead to flash flooding. "Strong winds combined with extreme heat can have an impact on the grid and damage electrical equipment, potentially resulting in service disruptions," Duquesne Light said in the press release. Duquesne Light, which covers parts of Beaver and Allegheny counties, added that it will increase staffing on Wednesday to respond to any outages. In April, hundreds of thousands of customers in the Pittsburgh area were left without power for days after storms slammed the region. Duquesne Light said over 325,000 customers lost power at one point. It took about seven days for full restoration. A state lawmaker then held a public hearing to determine how everyone can be more prepared for future storms after the prolonged outages. Power outages tips To be prepared for any power outages, keep your devices charged and have an emergency kit with items like non-perishable food, water and batteries. If power does go out, Duquesne Light customers can report it online or call 888-393-7100. Also, do not forget to check on older family, friends and neighbors who live alone.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions of Americans brace for high utility bills amid ongoing price hikes — here's why electricity rates are going up
As utility providers in Pennsylvania and other states in the eastern U.S. prepare to raise rates because of increasing demand and a shrinking supply of traditional power generation, millions of residents are expecting higher energy bills starting this month. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that rate increases took effect across the state on June 1 as utilities updated their charges to reflect higher wholesale prices. Duquesne Light customers can expect their average monthly bill to increase from $137.99 to $147.41, and West Penn Power customers should plan for price hikes from $146.61 to approximately $154 per month. Because the costs of energy have increased by roughly 44% on the regional transmission grid that manages the reliability and wholesale electricity market for Pennsylvania, PJM Interconnection, local utilities are forced to pass on costs to consumers. These price adjustments, which change every three months to keep up with market prices, account for around 50% of the total utility bill. PJM coordinates electricity across 13 states, including Ohio and New Jersey, where electric supply costs are expected to rise by 10% to 36% this month. Other factors contributing to surging electricity prices include the retirement of older power plants, particularly coal plants, before new ones come online to replace them; transmission bottlenecks; an extraordinary demand from data centers; a resurgence in manufacturing; and the transition to clean energy. The northeastern U.S. is already experiencing higher costs of living and inflation rates than the national average. If customers are also saddled with skyrocketing electric bills, they may have little breathing room and trouble keeping up with bills. However, these rate hikes are generally beyond the control of regional grid operators, which are at the mercy of complex factors that impact prices, as Seth Blumsack, a professor of energy policy and economics at Penn State University, explained to the Gazette. "In the electricity market, there are big portions of people's bills that are" determined elsewhere, he said. While customers worry about higher electric bills, it's worth noting that the push to build data centers has a larger impact on our shared environment. Data centers require massive amounts of energy — often derived from dirty fuels — and consume valuable resources, such as land and water, ultimately harming wildlife and ecosystems. As the Gazette noted, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission provided tips for customers to save money on bills this summer as temperatures rise. These include upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, sealing leaks, using fans to reduce air conditioning needs, and setting your smart thermostat to an energy-saving setting when you're away from home. Do you think your energy bills are too high? Always Usually Only in certain months Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. However, the most effective way to reduce electric bills and achieve energy independence is by installing solar panels, which also help the environment by reducing pollution. While the initial investment in solar can be expensive, leasing can help homeowners access cheaper, cleaner energy without having to pay thousands of dollars upfront. Palmetto's LightReach program offers affordable financing options to lease solar panels (including plans with $0 down), allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of solar while avoiding massive installation fees. If you'd rather own a solar system outright, you can check out EnergySage's free tools that help you compare quotes from vetted contractors. Depending on your situation, it may be more advantageous to buy instead of lease solar panels, but if you're on the fence about which to choose, Palmetto's list of pros and cons can point you in the right direction. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
