Pittsburgh’s electric company is using drones to check power lines, cutting inspection time in half

Drones can fly to many places that are impossible or dangerous for humans to reach, including right next to live electrical lines. 

That’s the idea behind Duquesne Light Company’s pilot project with Skydio drones. Launched in 2023, the tech allows workers to inspect power lines without needing to shut them down. It’s not only safer, said Don Kunc, Duquesne’s general manager of operations technology, but also more efficient.

The drones “have cut inspection time to 1 to 2 hours in most cases, compared to 4 to 6 hours with traditional inspections,” Kunc told Technical.ly.  

Founded in 1912 as one of the inventor George Westinghouse’s many companies, Duquesne Light serves over 600,000 customers. It has 1,800 employees, including one inspector using drones and some additional trainees for drone inspection.

Another major problem avoided with the switch to drone inspections? Bee stings

In a traditional inspection, workers stand at the top of a nearby hill and use binoculars to spot damages and generally assess power lines’ viability. Using drones eliminates the need for human inspectors to travel to a high vantage point, so they can avoid walking down steep hills or climbing ladders as a regular part of their job. 

Another major problem avoided with the switch to drone inspections? “Bee stings,” Kunc said, which can easily happen when workers are walking through brush.

Pittsburgh is considered a leader in drones and robotics, especially field technology.  Startup Gather AI has raised tens of millions for its platform that uses drones to track warehouse inventory. Infrastructure inspection drone company Gecko Robotics is now valued at $600 million.  The Pittsburgh Robotics Network counts more than 100 members, with more getting their start along the city’s bustling Robotics Row.

At Duquesne Light, drones have been an effective tool for assessing and fixing damaged lines, according to Kunc. The bots, sourced from California-based Skydio for their high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors, provide data that creates 3D renderings of power lines, substations and other facilities. 

For now, Kunc said, the utility is focusing the drones on small-scale projects while exploring how to maximize the use of the technology. One potential application is to outfit drones with LIDAR, which uses light to detect distance.

The inspection pilot project is due to run through the end of 2025.  By the end of the project, Kunc said, the company aims to have “built a case to move forward with the drone program.”