Duquesne Light introduces improvements one year after derecho caused widespread outages in Western Pennsylvania. (File Photo of the Duquesne Light Company Logo) Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News (Beaver County, PA) A year after a powerful storm caused widespread damage and outages in Western Pennsylvania, utilities and city officials say they are better prepared for future severe weather. On April 29, 2025, a derecho with winds up to 90 mph left hundreds of thousands without power. Duquesne Light Company said it has since introduced new technology to improve communication with customers during outages, including expanded text messaging alerts. The utility also said it has strengthened its ability to restore service by increasing available personnel and deploying tools to more quickly locate downed power lines.

Resource Innovations completes landmark grid cybersecurity project with global research consortium. Advancing AI-driven resilience and protection for critical energy infrastructure worldwide. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (April 2, 2026) - Resource Innovations (RI) is pleased to announce the successful completion of a four-year, international cybersecurity research and development project aimed at strengthening the resilience of electric grids against evolving cyber threats. The initiative, led by Arizona State University (ASU) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and in collaboration with industry partners Arava Power, Arizona Public Service (APS), Delek US, Duquesne Light Company (DLC), Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Meptagon, MITRE, National Renewable Energy Lab, OPAL-RT, OTORIO, RAD, Salt River Project (SRP), Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, and SIGA OT Solutions, was funded by the U.S.-Israel Energy Center program, managed by the U.S.-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation. Spanning October 2021 through October 2025, the project - Comprehensive Cybersecurity Technology for Critical Power Infrastructure: AI-Based Centralized Defense and Edge Resilience - represents a significant milestone in RI's commitment to innovation and scalable solutions for the global energy sector. As cyber threats to energy infrastructure intensify, the need for advanced, adaptive defense systems has never been greater. Industry data show cyberattacks targeting U.S. utilities surged by 70% in 2024 alone, with more than half of utilities reporting at least one cybersecurity incident. To combat this threat, the consortium's work delivers critical advancements in detecting, mitigating, and responding to sophisticated attacks without disrupting grid operations. "This project reflects Resource Innovations' deep commitment to securing the grid through cutting-edge research and real-world application," said John Dirkman, P.E., Vice President of Product Management at Resource Innovations. "By combining advanced analytics, machine learning and other AI methods, and decades of grid expertise, we've developed technologies that not only detect emerging threats but help utilities maintain reliable operations under attack conditions." Advancing grid resilience through innovation. The project brought together leading researchers and industry experts to address one of the most pressing challenges in energy: How to ensure continuous, reliable power in the face of increasingly complex cyber and physical threats. Key project outcomes include: * AI-driven threat detection and mitigation: Development of machine learning, an artificial neural network, and other AI models capable of identifying sophisticated cyberattacks - such as load redistribution and event-mimicking attacks - by analyzing discrepancies between forecasted and real-time grid data. * Advanced grid modeling and state estimation: Enhanced distribution system modeling using advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) data to improve network visibility, anomaly detection, and operational decision-making. * Resilient control systems using reinforcement learning: Breakthrough approaches leveraging reinforcement learning and temporal graph convolutional networks (TGCNs) to determine optimal response strategies during cyber events, even within highly complex grid environments. * Scalable, product-ready solutions: Translation of research into deployable software, firmware, and system architectures designed to integrate with existing utility infrastructure and scale across global markets. These innovations are designed to help utilities detect and respond to attacks in real time, maintain operational continuity, and reduce the risk of outages or system disruptions. A collaborative foundation for global impact. Building on a long-standing relationship with ASU and previous U.S. Department of Energy-funded initiatives, Resource Innovations played a central role in bridging academic research and practical utility applications. The consortium also included a broad network of utilities, technology providers, and research institutions across the United States and Israel. "This work advances how we understand and respond to cyber threats in power systems, particularly in improving grid visibility and resilience under increasingly complex conditions," said Yang Weng, Associate Professor in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at Arizona State University. "Bringing together diverse data sources and rigorous research, the project establishes a strong foundation for more secure and adaptive grid operations. It has been a pleasure working with Resource Innovations and the broader consortium, and we look forward to building on these results." Throughout the project, Resource Innovations contributed its expertise in grid architecture, state estimation, and advanced grid analytics to support the development of large-scale simulation datasets, threat detection frameworks, and implementation pathways for commercialization. In addition, the team, led by Resource Innovations, established and engaged an Industry Advisory Board of 26 organizations spanning utilities, cybersecurity firms, and technology providers, ensuring that project outcomes aligned with real-world needs and deployment challenges. Addressing a rapidly evolving threat landscape. The urgency of this work is validated by rising vulnerabilities across the energy sector. Increasing grid digitization, distributed energy resources, and legacy infrastructure all contribute to increased attack risk. Simultaneously, nation-state actors and cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated in targeting critical infrastructure. By focusing on both centralized defense mechanisms and edge resilience, the project delivers a comprehensive approach to grid cybersecurity - one that adapts to emerging threats while preserving system reliability. Continuing the commitment to innovate at scale. The completion of the BIRD-funded project marks another step forward in Resource Innovations' broader mission to drive innovation and deliver scalable solutions that strengthen energy systems worldwide. The technologies and insights developed through this initiative will inform future product development, partnerships, and deployments across utility markets. About Resource Innovations Resource Innovations (RI) is a women-led energy transformation firm focused on impact. Building on its expertise in energy efficiency, Resource Innovations, Inc. is constantly expanding its portfolio of clean energy solutions to guide utilities through increasingly complex, connected challenges. Resource Innovations, Inc. is a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. Visit resource-innovations.com to learn more about how Resource Innovations, Inc. is accelerating the clean energy transition and leading the charge to power change. Related energy resources. Explore Resource Innovations' clean energy transition insights.

New duquesne Light substation promises to increase grid resiliency in downtown. Duquesne Light Company on Thursday unveiled an electric grid upgrade it says will support growth and revitalization efforts in Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle. The new Watson Substation in Uptown is $237 million and more than six years in the making. It will take in high voltage power transported through transmission lines, then convert and distribute it for use in homes and businesses. It will be the third substation serving the Downtown area, guarding against disruptions from increasingly volatile weather and growing energy demands. Jason Keller, DLC's director of grid infrastructure and engineering, said Downtown already has a reliable electric system. "What Watson's really doing is adding resiliency," Keller said. "And what we mean by that is: it's putting additional sources of electricity into the area, so that, if there ever were an outage, we're able to recover more quickly." He said he hopes customers won't even notice the upgrade. "Currently, they don't experience outages very often in that area. This will only enhance that," Keller said. "So, if we do everything well, really this should be a seamless transition for them because if the lights stay on, that means we're doing our job." There is potential for short outages between 8 p.m. and midnight on Oct. 28 and 29, when Watson is scheduled to be connected to the grid. DLC aims to keep outages to less than 30 minutes. Half of customers in the Downtown service area will be switched to the new substation at a time, so no one should experience two outages during the connection. People can expect to see a heightened presence of DLC workers downtown in the lead up to the connection, as well as some lane closures and blocked-off manholes. Keller said the project will not affect customers' bills. Initial planning for the substation started in 2017, with engineering beginning in 2019. DLC considered sustainability in the building's design, incorporating 130 rooftop solar panels and a comprehensive stormwater management system.