Rep. Jeremy Shaffer of Allegheny County has expressed approval for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) decision to examine how utility companies responded to severe storms that struck in late April, leaving more than 500,000 people without power.
“More than two weeks after the storm I am hearing from residents who are still without power,” Shaffer stated. “We also had schools closed and roads blocked for over a week by downed power lines. We need to learn from this to make sure our community members aren’t in the dark for this long when storms hit. We need a strong, resilient power grid. There are steps other regions have taken we can implement here.”
The PUC’s investigation will address several aspects related to the storm’s impact on utilities such as Duquesne Light and FirstEnergy. The review will cover infrastructure issues like broken poles and downed wires, tree-related damage, off-right-of-way hazards, mutual aid usage, restoration crew deployment, public communication efforts, and strategies for future extreme weather preparedness.
“I look forward to the commission’s findings and to working on real solutions that improve storm response moving forward,” Shaffer added.
In addition to supporting the PUC’s investigation, Shaffer has called for public input into improving storm response measures through a video statement where he emphasized the importance of preparing for future storms in Pennsylvania.
“I’m committed to making sure we’re not just reacting to these storms but actively preparing for the next one,” Shaffer said. “That means we need answers so we can protect our communities in the future.”
For more information or to view Representative Shaffer’s remarks, visit his official website or social media pages.
