Duquesne Light Reviews

Pros

The company has been around for over 100 years. It seems relatively stable, however, the Union contract is up in 2010 so I am not sure how that will affect everyone. The salary and benefits are good for the region. However! Negotiate upfront because they DO NOT give raises or cost of living increases. The only way to get a raise is to be promoted. They used to have a kick ass bonus plan but that was taken away. The employees are very nice and helpful. The environment is fairly laid back. As long as you get your work done, nobody seems to care what you do.

Cons

Senior management is nowhere to be seen. 2007 Bonus's thrown out the door without any explanation. There is no common goal or vision at the company. This is all in conjuction with the company being sold to Macquarie, an Austrailian investment firm. Maybe they want people to leave??? It seems like they are happy when people making high salaries leave. Then they can cut the budget. It seems like they are going to try to bust the Union. They don't replace anyone in the Union that retires. For a public utility, they spend money like drunken sailors. I am surprised at how much money is wasted.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate what is going on with the company to the people who keep it running.

Pros

Ability to work independently without micromanagement and flexibility of work schedule.

Cons

No emphasis on employee development. Feedback on job performance only occurs at year-end review. Due to system limitations, more time spent gathering data than providing analysis. Treatment of employees is not consistent by department or position. Employee morale varies considerably throughout the organization.

Advice to Senior Management

Company needs to streamline the IT systems as this could reduce overtime and improve analysis. Creating a mentor program and having periodic developmental discussions between staff and superviors could improve employee development. Simple things can improve employee morale (i.e. dress down Friday) that have no cost impact on the company but can have a major impact on employee morale.

Pros

Working for a utility. Our work work will always be there and not get shipped overseas. The community depends on Duquesne Light. The company has the potential once again to be a great place to work.

Cons

It seems Upper management is completely disengaged. 'The leaders' of the company are not interested om doing the right thing. The company seems to only care about cutting costs and doing more with less people. It is becoing increasingly harder to do your job.

Advice to Senior Management

Get involved, get out of your offices and see what is going on in the company. Talk to people see what they are thinking. There are a lot of changes happening come see what they are and how they are affecting the way we do business

Pros

It has a union that offers some job protection. It has a system of job bidding that allows one to change jobs. It has an "OK" benefit package by todays standard. The salary is comprable to other similar jobs.

Cons

The management in the skilled labor departments are very unprofessional and tend to be overly cliquish. They have strong traits of the "good ol boy system". The company is not as financially strong as it was when it owned its own power stations. Corporate greed of the previous CEO sold the power stations and left the company as just a wires company which means the company does not generate power, but they transmit power through their power lines. This is the equivalent of a major airplane company selling all of their airplanes and just making money by charging to check your baggage. The company has been bought by a bean counter investment company which means there will be little concern for the effectiveness and reliability of the company. They will not operate the company the way disciplined engineers would by respecting the physics behind the operations. The bean counting company is only concern with money; therefore, they will forgo proper maintenance, they will try to reduce employee benefits and reduce the quality of life for them. Their ultimate goal is to get blood from a turnip.

Advice to Senior Management

Teach management how to be more professional. By this I mean teach them people skills: interpersonal communications, multicultural diversity, teach them how to have class. Teach them about the "Pygmalion effect" (look it up) so that the employees can thrive in their working environment and not dread being their feeling as though they are invisible. In this way the company will flourish and prosper.