October 2020
Member Spotlight
In 2020, SECC will be recognizing a member each month, providing an organizational profile and highlighting the member's accomplishments and output in the smart energy space.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next-generation energy company, DLC’s nearly 1,600 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Leading by Example
In line with DLC’s commitment to sustainability and clean energy, solar panels and a solar tree were recently installed at the company’s Woods Run campus in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood. The 57.6 kilowatts of carbon-free electricity will help power 20 electric vehicle (EV) charging station plugs to accommodate DLC’s growing electric fleet and employees who drive EVs.
Recently, DLC committed to electrify 100 percent of the light-duty vehicles in its fleet by 2030. In that same timeframe, it will also find electric solutions for 25 percent of medium-duty vehicles, 30 percent of heavy-duty vehicles and 50 percent of forklifts. Overall, the company’s aiming for 30x30 – 30 percent of DLC’s fleet will be powered by electricity by 2030.
Benefits of Driving Electric
Beyond growing its electric fleet and supporting employees with EVs, DLC is also helping customers experience the benefits of driving electric, especially as electricity fuels a new era of mobility in the Pittsburgh region.
Last year alone, public charging increased by more than 70 percent in the City of Pittsburgh through DLC’s charging infrastructure rebate. These efforts led to the installation of nearly 100 charging station plugs at popular destinations throughout the city, including entertainment venues, business centers and education facilities.
Through its program, DLC supported charging station installation costs at each of these locations and also worked alongside the project teams to help them apply for additional incentives such as the Driving PA Forward state rebate.
Beyond supporting the increase of public charging infrastructure, DLC is helping its customers explore EV models with its interactive EV Guide. The company also offers an instant rebate that gives customers up to $2,000 when they purchase or lease an EV through a local #1 Cochran dealership.
Saving Energy With TEN
Over the past few years, The Efficiency Network, Inc. (TEN) – an independent energy services company and DLC’s sister business – has been working with the University of Pittsburgh on energy-efficiency projects that will help make the campus more sustainable and efficient. Since beginning the project in 2018, TEN has helped the university reduce its carbon emissions by more than three percent (or 5,500 metric tons) a year.
TEN’s team of engineers, energy auditors and project managers have helped the university develop projects that include LED lighting upgrades in multiple facilities, including the Petersen Events Center and Trees Hall; retro-commissioning at the Chevron Science Center and Langley Library; and chiller plant upgrades at the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, which will save energy and water, free up penthouse floor space and provide easier maintenance conditions. To date, TEN has developed $7.5 million worth of projects at the university with more than $850,000 in total annual cost savings.
In addition to the University of Pittsburgh, TEN has developed similar initiatives for Penn State University, Temple University, Swarthmore College, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and the Community College of Allegheny County. The company has also developed large projects for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Science Center, Andy Warhol Museum and United Steelworkers headquarters.
