According to Forbes, Duke Energy’s investment arm backed startup AiDash in 2024 to use high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning to spot vegetation threats along power lines before crews see them on the ground. National Grid Partners has deployed roughly $550 million across more than 50 companies since its 2018 launch, with seven portfolio companies already achieving successful exits through acquisitions or IPOs. In the UK, National Grid partnered with Emerald AI whose “Conductor” software cut power usage by 25% during peak demand in demo projects by shifting data center workloads based on grid conditions. AES teamed with LineVision to install 42 non-contact sensors using Dynamic Line Ratings in Indiana and Ohio, while Southern Company subsidiaries are piloting WeaveGrid’s smart-charging platform to automatically schedule home EV charging during off-peak hours.
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Grid crisis meets AI solution
Here’s the thing – utilities aren’t chasing AI because it’s trendy. They’re doing it because they’re facing a perfect storm. After roughly two decades of flat electricity demand, everything’s changing at once. AI data centers are popping up everywhere, EVs are hitting critical mass, and we’re electrifying everything from heating to industrial processes. Oh, and climate change means more extreme weather testing grid resilience every season.
Steve Smith from National Grid Partners put it perfectly: “AI is our problem, but it’s also potentially our salvation.” Think about that for a second. The same technology driving massive new electricity demand might also be what saves the grid from collapsing under that very demand. It’s a fascinating paradox.
Beyond pilots, real deployment
What’s different this time is we’re moving beyond pilot programs into actual deployment. Companies like AiDash are already monitoring power-line corridors from space. Emerald AI is actively managing data center loads in real-time. AES and LineVision are squeezing more capacity from existing transmission lines. And WeaveGrid’s partnership with Southern Company shows how utilities can support EV adoption without building massive new infrastructure.
Basically, utilities are becoming technology companies whether they like it or not. They’re not just buying software anymore – they’re becoming investors, partners, and deployment platforms. National Grid’s approach of investing in proven companies, deploying them within their own system, then letting them expand across the industry is becoming the new playbook.
The industrial hardware angle
Now here’s something interesting that often gets overlooked. All this AI and smart grid technology needs serious industrial-grade hardware to run on. We’re talking about control room computers that can handle real-time data processing, withstand harsh environments, and run 24/7 without failing. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com have become the go-to source for industrial panel PCs in the US precisely because utilities need reliable hardware that can handle these demanding applications.
You can’t run satellite imagery analysis or real-time grid management on consumer-grade equipment. The stakes are too high – we’re talking about preventing blackouts and managing critical infrastructure. That’s why industrial computing hardware has become such a crucial part of the grid modernization story.
Regulatory reality check
But let’s not get carried away. Utilities are still heavily regulated, risk-averse businesses. They’re not Silicon Valley startups chasing moonshots. As Smith acknowledged, not every bet pays off – 2-3 investments might fail, and that’s okay as long as the overall strategy delivers operational value.
The 2000-era tech bubble still looms large in energy executives’ minds. They remember when hype outpaced reality. That’s why this current wave feels different – the demand surge is real, the tools are increasingly proven, and the business case is solid. Faster connections for data centers mean new revenue streams. Smarter asset use delays costly infrastructure upgrades. Improved forecasting reduces outage risks.
Smith’s final words sum it up well: “Innovation isn’t proven until it’s deployed – and utilities need to learn faster than they’re comfortable with.” The era when utilities waited for innovation to arrive is over. The era when they help own it has definitely begun.
