Duquesne Light launches competition to find ways to better monitor electrical cables

In Pittsburgh, Duquesne Light Company (DLC) launched a crowdsourcing competition called “The Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge.”

There are hundreds of millions of miles of electrical cables underground. However, as they age, it is important to proactively monitor their health and ability to deliver electrical power. This initiative, done in conjunction with crowdsource provider HeroX, seeks to create a more reliable and safer underground electric network. More specifically, it looks to find ways to monitor electrical cable health to allow for proactive maintenance and provide a safe environment for utility workers.

“In today’s connected society, electricity is an invaluable resource,” Josh Gould, director of innovation at DLC, said. “While our cables are well maintained, we want an innovative system that will guarantee their longevity and improve maintenance efficiency, which will ultimately lead to cost savings. We are excited to see the new insights and technologies that this challenge will generate.”

The challenge will source solutions for monitoring and detecting precursors to failure in underground cables. It will consist of three phases. Phase 1 will be an Ideation phase, which includes a concept and initial design. Phase 2 will be a Proof of Concept, including a prototype demonstration. Phase 3 is a Live Field Test with a pilot deployment. The challenge will provide funding to selected teams through pilot deployment. The winning designs will be awarded a share of the $750,000 prize purse.

“We are excited to see DLC tap the power of the crowd to innovate in a much-needed space,” Kal Sahota, CEO at HeroX, said. “Without a doubt, our extensive network of problem solvers will generate ideas that will have significant impact on our cities and beyond.”

Duquesne Light Company provides power to more than 600,000 customers across southwestern Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh.