How DLC Prepares for Storms
Duquesne Light Company's (DLC) comprehensive Storm Plan allows us to quickly mobilize personnel and equipment to respond to severe weather events. Our incident management team continuously monitors the weather. When a storm is approaching, our DLC Storm Team is activated.
In anticipation of severe weather, field personnel begin to mobilize crews, increase staffing and evaluate scheduled work.
During a major event, the Operations Center serves as the Company's Storm Headquarters, or the central location where DLC's power restoration activities are coordinated. DLC crews can usually begin restoring outages while a storm is still in progress. However, during severe storms, it may take several hours after the storm subsides before damage reports can be analyzed and prioritized.
While the Operations Center directs power restoration efforts, our Contact Center is collecting outage reports from customers and relaying information to the Operations Center.
Coordination of all outages are handled by the Operations
Center; they are responsible for:
- Monitoring the weather, including the threat of additional storms
- Using computer systems to remotely turn power off so crews can safely make repairs, then turning power back on when the work is done
- Dispatching field investigators, referred to as Troubleshooters, who provide initial damage reports
- Compiling and assessing damage information
- Coordinating crews, including tree removal before downed wires and equipment can be replaced
- Depending on the severity of the damage, DLC also can call upon neighboring utilities throughout the region for assistance as part of the industry's mutual assistance agreement
- Coordinating internal technical and administrative support
- Continuously provide information to the news media, emergency personnel, major customers, and all others who need to receive restoration information