Robert Morris University To Present Duquesne Light CEO With Honorary Degree at 81st Commencement

Morgan O'Brien Lauded for Business Success and Commitment to Pittsburgh Community 


PITTSBURGH, May 5  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Robert Morris University (RMU) will present Duquesne Light President & CEO Morgan O'Brien with an honorary doctor of science in business administration degree at its 81st commencement. More than 1,150 students are expected to receive degrees during tomorrow's ceremony, to begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Charles L. Sewall Center on RMU's campus.

O'Brien, who earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the university, is being recognized for his outstanding leadership, as well as his contributions to the business and professional communities.  Gov. Edward G. Rendell will deliver the commencement address during Saturday's ceremony.

"It's a privilege and an honor to receive this recognition from Robert Morris University, which educates and prepares young people from this area for life's challenges," said O'Brien, who received both his bachelor's degree in accounting and master's degree in taxation from RMU.  "This institution has contributed to the rebirth of Pittsburgh as a center of innovation and technology.  We at Duquesne Light join Robert Morris in its commitment to the future of this region."

O'Brien led the successful implementation of Duquesne Light's "Back-to- Basics" strategy, which focused on returning the company to its core business: a solid, traditional electric utility with a strong balance sheet and a predictable earnings stream.  In 2005, O'Brien announced the company's $500- million investment in the region's electric infrastructure, designed to proactively replace aging equipment over the next several years in order to maintain the levels of service and reliability customers have come to expect from Duquesne Light.

A native of Pittsburgh, O'Brien firmly believes that as the major electric supplier to the Pittsburgh region, Duquesne Light's success is directly connected to the success of the communities and families the company serves. A major focus of the "Back-to-Basics" strategy was to re-establish the company's role as a community partner.

"Whether we are investing our resources to ensure that our infrastructure meets the current and future electrical demands of Oakland, Downtown, Aliquippa, Beaver Falls and all of the other communities we serve, or investing in the development of talented students to help provide the leadership our region needs to grow and thrive, the goal is the same - to build strong and vibrant communities where we all can be successful," O'Brien said.

Those efforts have included sponsoring Pittsburgh traditions, such as Light Up Night and the Three Rivers Arts Festival; funding academic and development programs that help children get ready for the jobs of tomorrow; and using the power of light to positively impact the region, such as the illumination of the Clemente Bridge and a key section of Penn Avenue downtown.

Duquesne Light (NYSE:DQE) employees also are very active in the community - helping flood victims, food banks and youth groups, to name just a few ways. Employees volunteered nearly 6,000 hours at company-sponsored events in 2005, including helping low-income customers sign up for energy assistance and providing new winter coats for underserved youths.

O'Brien currently serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Allegheny County, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, and the Greater Pittsburgh Council, Boy Scouts of America.  He also is a board member of Duquesne Light Holdings, the Edison Electric Institute, and the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.

About Duquesne Light Company

Duquesne Light Company is a leader in the transmission and distribution of electric energy, offering superior customer service and reliability to more than half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

About Robert Morris University

Robert Morris University, founded in 1921, is a private, four-year institution with an enrollment of approximately 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The university offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs and 18 master's and doctoral degree programs. An estimated 22,000 alumni live and work in western Pennsylvania. 

DATASOURCE: Duquesne Light Holdings



CONTACT:  Joe Balaban of Duquesne Light Holdings, [phone]

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