Innovation Center

WE INTEGRATE INNOVATION INTO ALL THAT WE DO.

Our Commitment:

Duquesne Light Company's Innovation Center exists to harness the power of innovation, collaboration and new technology in our effort to provide safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 600,000 customers in the Pittsburgh region.

We support all innovation efforts at
Duquesne Light Holdings

The Innovation Center is committed to help DLC and its sister companies serve their customers through groundbreaking strategies.

Through synergy with local universities, we contribute to the burgeoning network of higher education in Pittsburgh.

We work in close collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering.

DLC Innovation Center Director, Josh Gould, provides office hours at Carnegie Mellon University's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. He is a sponsor of CMU's Scott Center for Energy Innovation, where he participated in their Energy, Resilience, and COVID-19 Webinar Series. Josh also volunteers as a judge in business plan competitions, including Pitt’s Randall Family Big Idea Competition and the Department of Energy's Sunshot Competition (hosted by CMU).

The Innovation Center seeks input for:

SAFETY

Utilize training, processes, technology and tools to ensure the safety of our employees, contractors, customers, and the public.

AFFORDABILITY

Improve our efficiency and optimize the utilization of our assets.

ExcellenCE in Service

Offer products and services our customers need. Eliminate customer problems before they occur and deliver in the moment of truth.

Reliability

Keep the lights are on for our customers and keep our system safe and secure to ensure our grid is prepared for the future.

Sustainability

Reduce the environmental impact of our operations while assisting and educating our customers in minimizing their footprint.

Why work with us?

Customers: DLC has a large, diverse customer base with whom we are committed to providing new products and services, and the improved delivery of existing products and services.

Network: Southwestern Pennsylvania is a hub of innovation led by local universities including Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. DLC has strong relationships with these institutions, other utilities and nonprofits.

Infrastructure: We are always looking for partners who can help us make improvements to safety, reliability and efficiency within our infrastructure.

Concierge Service: Each partner receives a dedicated 'concierge' from our team to help innovators navigate through the organization and access the appropriate individuals and departments internally.

Record of Success: We have a proven track record of success with an established process for onboarding partners with innovative solutions.

Contact Us

Email innovation@duqlight.com or fill out our Contact Form.

Featured Initiatives

Department of Energy's American Made SOLVE IT Challenge: Collaboration between our Innovation Center and the Borough of Sharpsburg

DLC's ongoing collaboration with the Borough of Sharpsburg and local nonprofits has advanced to stage three of the Department of Energy's American Made SOLVE IT Challenge. Learn more about the challenge here.

Internal Drone Program introduced to check power lines

With the innovative use of Skydio drones, this tech allows workers to inspect power lines without needing to shut them down. It’s not only safer, but also more efficient. The project pilot will run through the end of 2025. Learn more about the program here.

Watt Works: Process Electrification Summit held for industrial manufacturers

In August, 2024, our Innovation Center hosted electrification technology vendors, regional manufacturers, and industry experts at the Woods Run Campus. Learn more about the event and the speakers here.

Past Projects

Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge: The Future of Underground Inspection

We innovate to ensure the energy we deliver is safe. The Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge seeks novel solutions to monitor and detect precursors to failure in underground Medium Voltage Power Cables. Learn more about the challenge here.

Dynamic Line Rating

In July 2021, DLC partnered with LineVision, Inc. to complete the installation of LineVision sensors on our transmission towers. We are anticipating several benefits from this project, including optimizing our transmission lines to minimize congestion costs and providing our customers with affordability benefits. Stay tuned for more information.