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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 25, 1998
DQE, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania 1-10290 25-159843
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Cherrington Corporate Center, Suite 100
500 Cherrington Parkway, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania 15108-3184
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (412) 262-4700
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Items 1-4. Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Events.
On March 25, 1998, two Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC)
administrative law judges recommended that a decision on the proposed merger of
Registrant and Allegheny Energy, Inc. (AYE) be deferred for up to 18 months to
allow the companies to address market power concerns. If the PUC follows this
recommendation, the proposed merger, originally anticipated to be consummated in
mid-1998, may not occur.
In two other decisions issued at the same time, the judges recommended
approval, with modifications, of the restructuring plans of Registrant's utility
subsidiary, Duquesne Light Company and of AYE's utility subsidiary, West Penn
Power.
Parties in the merger and restructuring proceedings may file exceptions to
the judge's decisions; Registrant anticipates filing exceptions in mid-April.
The PUC is scheduled to consider such exceptions and the recommended decisions
in non-binding polls at its April 30, 1998, meeting. A final vote is set for
the May 21, 1998, meeting.
The recommended decisions regarding Registrant's restructuring plan, AYE's
restructuring plan and the proposed merger cover nearly 2,000 pages, and may be
viewed via the internet at http://puc.paonline.com.
Items 6-9. Not applicable.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
DQE, Inc.
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(Registrant)
Date April 7, 1998 /s/Gary L. Schwass
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(Signature)
Gary L. Schwass
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
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