DLC completes part of project replacing century-old infrastructure
Pittsburgh-based Duquesne Light Company (DLC) announced recently that they had complete Phase 3A of a multi-phased project to transmission line installed more than 100 years ago.
DLC said the Brunot Island-Crescent transmission Reliability project had completed its work replacing century-old lines along a 14.5 miles roue from a substation in Crescent Township to the Brunot Island substation along the Ohio River just west of downtown Pittsburgh. The lines are some of the oldest in the company’s network.
“Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved. This project will ensure this transmission line is healthy and prepared to meet our customers’ current and future electrical demands,” Jason A. Harchick, DLC’s director of grid optimization and asset management, said.
The project is part of a larger effort modernize DLC’s network of 138kV transmission lines installed in the 1900s. The upgraded network will improve the quality of service for customers in Moon Township, Robinson Township, Kennedy Township, McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh, the company said, as well as improve efficiency.
Part 1 of Phase 3A, that saw six lattice structures with self-supporting monopoles anchored to concrete bases replaced, was partially completed in November 2023. Construction for the multi-phased project started in December 2021 and is expected to continue through spring 2027.
“While our infrastructure has served customers well for decades, various components are nearing the end of their useful operating lives,” the company said on its website. “We proactively replace that equipment in order to maintain the levels of service and reliability that you’ve come to expect from DLC, and to ensure that the region will be able to meet future energy demands.”
