Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is committed to providing power to the Pittsburgh area, but its role in the community doesn’t end with utility service. The company has a robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy that aims to ensure it is a part of the solution for a better future.
One element of the ESG strategy is a priority on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that has been a central component of DLC’s strategy since 2019. Through efforts within the company and community, DLC is visibly demonstrating its commitment to widespread DEI initiatives, including a powerful presence for Juneteenth events this year.
A Clean Energy Future for All
The evolution of DEI initiatives at DLC has always been centered on the company’s vision.
“We strive to be a larger-than-light company advancing a clean energy future for all,” said Samantha Hartzman, senior manager of ESG and corporate giving at DLC. “When that business vision was released, including the ‘for all’ piece was essential.”
She emphasized that DEI initiatives can help cultivate diverse talent among the employees at DLC, reach out to the community, and build inclusive marketplace relationships. Ultimately, these initiatives help further business and individual goals. Creating a culture around empowerment and resource-building has been integral to DLC’s overall ESG strategy.
“Something you’ll hear a lot at DLC … is that culture eats strategy for breakfast,” Hartzman said. “If you don’t have the right culture, then nothing we do from a strategy standpoint is going to work for us.”
BERGs: A Core Element of Real Inclusion
DLC actively supports its commitment to empowering culture through the Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs). Hartzman identified several groups, including:
- EmpowerHER, focused on supporting women
- BRIDGE, building respect and inclusion for Black and African Americans
- A-VETS, geared towards veterans
- PRISM, a resource group for LGBTQ+ and allies
The groups aim to “create spaces for our employees to have a home at DLC where their members can thrive and feel empowered,” Hartzman said.
The BERGs support their members, but they’re also central to the evolution of DLC’s corporate structure.
Created in 2020, the BERGs have executive sponsors that have a direct relationship with DLC’s leadership team. The power of this connection was apparent throughout 2020 when the new DEI Committee transitioned to a more permanent council with the CEO and Chief HR Officer serving as executive sponsors. Navigating 2020, with COVID-19 struggles and the murder of George Floyd taking center stage, was a test for DLC’s newer DEI strategy, but the explicit focus on community and employee connections paid off.
“Our BERGs and the council came together to provide support to employees and education around these topics, so the organization was equipped to navigate those challenging issues,” Hartzman said.
Community Presence
The ESG policies highlight a solid commitment to diversity and inclusion beyond the company’s walls, too. Community involvement and presence are central to DLC’s work, and Hartzman explained that it goes beyond superficial efforts.
“We’re very intentional about showing up in underrepresented communities, not only in volunteering and being on the ground, but also providing financial support,” she said.
The BRIDGE employee group has hosted several volunteer events and worked in communities like Homewood, The Hill District, and Hazelwood alongside other local nonprofits to focus efforts on these underserved areas. Charitable giving, one of the components of the ESG strategy, is directed towards “diverse-led nonprofits,” which received 70% of DLC’s giving in 2022.
Relationships with universities, a presence at career fairs, and a community track record of being “an employer of choice” all help strengthen the connections between DLC and the Pittsburgh community. Hartzman pointed out that this presence helps everyone involved.
“We want to bring new perspectives and people who have innovative ideas into the company…to benefit the company and our service territory at large,” she said.
Hartzman said everything the company does, from working with local organizations to partnering with suppliers, ties in with its ESG strategy.
“DLC looks at our sponsorships through the lens of DEI and ensures that our sponsorships align with the ways in which we want to show up in the community,” she said.
Juneteenth in the Pittsburgh Community
One way that DLC is showing up this month is through direct involvement with local Juneteenth events. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth (or Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day) celebrates freedom, African American heritage, and the ongoing struggle for equality. In 2019, Pennsylvania recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday, and in 2020 the city of Pittsburgh followed suit. The 2023 Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration events focus on education and commemoration throughout the community, with plenty of time for music, dancing, and celebration.
Duquesne Light Company has always been a proud supporter and partner of Juneteenth events through sponsorship and direct involvement. DLC employees have opportunities to participate in its sponsorships.
This year, sponsoring the Pittsburgh Symphony’s performance and Stop the Violence during its parade participation are two ways DLC honors the community celebrations. The BRIDGE employee group also plans to continue its annual tradition of hosting a Juneteenth event for employees and their families for the third year in a row.
The Powerful Future of DEI
The time and energy that DLC puts into DEI initiatives is an intentional investment in the company’s future and its community. One way the company monitors the progress of this investment is through their inaugural ESG report, published on their Corporate Responsibility page.
“Everything we do needs to be for all our employees, all our customers…and advance inclusion for all,” Hartzman said.
With its combination of actionable policies, honest assessment, and visible community presence, Duquesne Light Company is on track toward a clean energy future for all.