The power came back on, but Bernard Wanninger's central air-conditioning unit, television and microwave didn't.
The retired brewery worker blames Duquesne Light. The utility blames an act of God -- and a wayward tree.
Wanninger is among about 100 residents and merchants in Ross whose appliances were zapped March 26 after a large pine tree collapsed onto a 23,000-volt power line near the intersection of 3 Degree Road and Babcock Boulevard. The power went out when the heavier line fell onto a 4,000-volt line.
Ovens, refrigerators, furnaces, dental equipment and other items were destroyed. Some residents had homeowners insurance that didn't cover the costs, and others lacked insurance altogether.
They blame Duquesne Light. But company officials say the utility isn't to blame.
"This has been a great loss for a number of people," said Joe Balaban, a Duquesne Light spokesman.
But because the tree that fell onto the lines was outside of Duquesne Light's right of way, Balaban said, the utility isn't liable. "Duquesne Light had nothing to do with this," he said.
Wanninger and others met with Balaban and several officials with the utility, and some residents have filed complaints with the Public Utility Commission.
"I do not have the money to replace these things," Wanninger said.
Nobody can explain why the tree fell. It was healthy, and the weather did not appear to be an issue.
But the results are no mystery.
Grace Stanko lost several thousand dollars' worth of printing equipment at North Hills Printing, which she owns.
"We are not millionaires, and this has meant a great loss to many people," said Stanko, a Ross commissioner who represents the Perrysville neighborhood where the outage occurred. "It would be nice, since it is not our fault, to get some compensation for this."
Down the street at Fidelity Bank, the branch's surveillance system and a large printer were destroyed -- at least $5,000 in damage, said Tony Rocco, the bank's senior vice president.
"We are waiting to hear about our insurance claims," Rocco said.
