Since the start of the 2024 summer season, the northeastern area of the United States of America has been facing some extreme weather. Between heatwaves and severe storms, power grids throughout the region have been put to the test. Areas like New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania have been hit by several massive storms leading to multiple power outages. High winds cause trees and branches to break, falling on power lines and poles. When a power line or pole is damaged in such a way, restoring power can take far longer than usual.

Founded in 1912, Duquesne Light Company has been providing power throughout the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. They service nearly 600,000 homes and businesses over 812 square miles encompassing Allegheny and Beaver counties. On June 24, 2024, a massive storm ripped through the Pittsburgh area. A wake of damage was left by the storm including the main cause of power outages, downed tree branches. More than 90,000 customers were left without power resulting from more than 1,000 separate incidents. Some residents had to go more than 48 hours without power.

This was not even the first major power outage of the season, and Duquesne was left scrambling to make repairs and restore power as the region dipped into yet another heatwave. “We know it is essential for Duquesne Light Company to provide exceptional service to all of our 600,000 customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties,” the company said in an email to its customers. “Through ongoing investments we’ve made in our people, processes and technology, we’ll be more prepared to respond when severe weather comes your way. We’re confident that this new technology will help us do that.”

Duquesne has always embraced up-and-coming technology. In 2018, the company launched a program to encourage its customers to purchase electric vehicles. Along with the $1,750 state rebate and upwards of $7,500 federal tax credits, Duquesne awarded customers with a $3,000 rebate when purchasing an electric vehicle. In the wake of the recent weather-induced power outages, Duquesne announced that they would be embracing yet another form of up-and-coming technology: drones.

Using drones, Duquesne will be able to inspect power lines in record time efficiently. Don Kunc, senior manager of distribution operations at Duquesne Light, said using drones to inspect power lines goes beyond making things faster and easier; it’s about keeping employees safe. “How do we use this technology to eliminate some of the hazards that our employees would have to go through, especially when doing inspections like walking on a right-of-way?” Don said. “You know, through the woods, up and down the hills and things like that, where we can do that all from the safety of the edge of the right-of-way.”

Duquesne has partnered with the number 1 drone company in the United States, 3rd in the world, Skydio. Founded in 2014 by Adam Bry, Abe Bachrach, and Matt Donahoe, the San Mateo, California-based drone company manufactures drones for use in defense, public safety, energy and utility maintenance, and infrastructure inspections. Skydio’s founders all met while attending MIT, and by 2021, the company was officially recognized as a “business unicorn” after being valued at more than $1 billion for the manufacturing and selling of drones.

Skydio provides its customers with a range of different drone and drone docking options to meet specific demands. Each drone is compatible with custom-tailored software systems. Duquesne did not reveal the specifics on which Skydio drone system they would be deploying, but they are joining the ranks of other national companies like PE&G, Duke Electric, Dominion Energy, Eversource, and Southern Company who rely on Skydio drones for power inspections.

As explained on Skydio’s website, their power infrastructure system enables customers to “navigate in highly energized, obstacle-rich environments, so you can access every gauge, switch, joint, and perimeter easily. Our groundbreaking AI-driven autonomous technology enables you to generate fully comprehensive inspection datasets while keeping inspectors on the ground and out of harm’s way.” Duquesne plans to begin utilizing the drone technology immediately, allowing them to maintain their company vision, “to create a larger-than-light, clean energy future for all by delivering exceptional results today and boldly harnessing opportunities for tomorrow. In doing so, we can ensure a cleaner, healthier and more equitable community for generations to come.”

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