<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000846930</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DQE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DQE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258330</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MULLINS SUSAN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>16.90</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-06-10</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-12-11</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>1200.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>16.90</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-12-11</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>1200.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Duquesne Light Preference Stock, Plan Series A</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.00</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Preference Stock, Series A</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>354.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>In 401(k) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right-to-buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>15.02</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-12-15</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>3200.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">08/08/1988 is a "dummy" date designated by the SEC.  These options become exercisable if 18 months have passed since the grant date (12/11/01) and the average daily closing price of DQE common stock on the NYSE during any 30 consecutive trading day period exceeds $22.49.  If the price level target is not met within 3 years of the grant date, the options will be forfeited; if it is met, the options will remain exercisable for 10 years from the grant date.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">08/08/1988 is a "dummy" date designated by the SEC.  These securities were issued by DQE's wholly owned subsidiary Duquesne Light Company, are exchangeable for shares of DQE Common Stock, and were allocated to the reporting person's account under the matching ESOP feature of the Duquesne Light 401(k) retirement plan in exempt transactions.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">1-for-1.5 Conversion</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">08/08/1988 is a "dummy" date designated by the SEC.  The options become exercisable, if at all, in 50% increments if 18 months have passed since the grant date and the average daily closing price of DQE common stock on the NYSE during any 30 consecutive trading day period exceeds $17.38 and $19.98, respectively.  If either price target level is not met within 3 years of the grant date, the options associated with that portion of the grant will be forfeited.  If either price target is met within 3 years</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Susan S. Mullins</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>/s/ Susan S. Mullins</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

