Steele, Policy Committee ask energy providers about power outages
Duquesne Light, West Penn Power detail issues after severe storm
Allegheny County Delegation May 21, 2025 | 8:44 PM
O’HARA TOWNSHIP, May 21 – More than 750,000 households lost power in the wake of severe weather on April 29 in Allegheny County and the surrounding region, and numerous residents continue to search for answers why energy providers could not restore power for days or even weeks.
“Our region suffered a major hit during this unprecedented storm,” said Steele, who hosted the hearing and represents portions of Allegheny County. “The sustained power outages were more than an inconvenience. We had older residents in life-and-death situations, unable to use life-sustaining medical devices in their homes, and we experienced major roadway closures.”
The House Majority Policy Committee and state Rep. Mandy Steele hosted the hearing to examine the lengthy power outages. A recording of the hearing’s livestream can be found here.
Sustained winds of 80 mph snapped trees and downed wires during the April storm, and more than 750,000 combined customers of FirstEnergy and Duquesne Light Company lost power during the storms across multiple counties, with some customers going without power for 15 days.
“I requested this hearing because I wanted to see if energy providers could improve their communication and build more local partnerships to help decrease the duration of these sustained power outages,” Steele said. “Restoring power after a storm like this can be incredibly complicated with an overwhelming number of challenges, and it’s why I’ve met with officials at Carnegie Mellon University and invited Duquesne Light and FirstEnergy to continue this conversation to see if we can address some of the infrastructure and power grid issues in our region.”
Steele has also introduced a measure to study the cost-effectiveness of burying power lines, and she also introduced a measure to protect against price gouging following a state of emergency.
“The aftermath in the hours and days following severe weather is a public safety issue, and the life-and-death circumstances continue long after the storm has subsided,” said House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “We heard from energy providers who tripled their workforce in the wake of this storm, but this region still suffered greatly. We wanted to ask questions, look for answers and see if we can improve outcomes in the wake of future storms.”
Wednesday’s House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from John Hilderbrand, Duquesne Light Company Vice President of Operations; Kristy Stone, Duquesne Light VP and Chief Customer Officer; Abe Amawi, FirstEnergy, which includes Penn Power and West Penn Power, Greensburg Area Director of Operations; Joshua Ash, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Director at the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic and a clinical assistant professor of law.
Information about this hearing and other House Majority Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy. Photos to be used for publication can be found at pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee/Galleries.