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The key to keeping the lights on: artificial intelligence
THE FUTURE OF EVERYTHING
ENERGY
THE KEY TO KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Power companies are turning to AI, drones and sensors to curtail outages, save money and help operate an increasingly complex electricity grid.
AUTHOR ASA FITCH
PUBLISHED FEB. 7, 2020 10:02 AM ET
READING TIME 6 MINUTE READ
After Hurricane Irma tore through South Florida in 2017 and cut power to more than six million people, it took 10 days for Florida Power & Light —the state’s largest electrical utility—to get the lights back on.
That was a big improvement from 2005, when recovery from Hurricane Wilma took 18 days. Investments in technology paid off. Now, FPL is looking to reduce recovery time further, by harnessing artificial intelligence, sensors and drones to better pinpoint outages and decide how best to fix them.
“After a storm, we want data,” says Michael Putt, the company’s smart grid and innovation director. “How quickly can I get imagery and information back?” These new tools help optimize decision-making in the first 12 to 24 hours after a storm, he says, helping get a read on damage in areas that otherwise could take days to access.
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The Wall Street Journal
ENERGY
THE KEY TO KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Power companies are turning to AI, drones and sensors to curtail outages, save money and help operate an increasingly complex electricity grid.
AUTHOR ASA FITCH
PUBLISHED FEB. 7, 2020 10:02 AM ET
READING TIME 6 MINUTE READ
After Hurricane Irma tore through South Florida in 2017 and cut power to more than six million people, it took 10 days for Florida Power & Light —the state’s largest electrical utility—to get the lights back on.
That was a big improvement from 2005, when recovery from Hurricane Wilma took 18 days. Investments in technology paid off. Now, FPL is looking to reduce recovery time further, by harnessing artificial intelligence, sensors and drones to better pinpoint outages and decide how best to fix them.
“After a storm, we want data,” says Michael Putt, the company’s smart grid and innovation director. “How quickly can I get imagery and information back?” These new tools help optimize decision-making in the first 12 to 24 hours after a storm, he says, helping get a read on damage in areas that otherwise could take days to access.
TO READ THE FULL STORY
SUBSCRIBE SIGN IN
The Wall Street Journal
