#USA #Boston #risk management #Electric Utilities #Overstory

Overstory Unveils a Revolutionary AI Platform for Electric Utilities

In an era where climate change brings increasingly severe weather phenomena, Overstory, a leading provider of natural risk management technology for electric utilities, has announced the launch of a cutting-edge integrated AI platform specifically designed to revolutionize how electricity providers manage risks. This innovative platform is set to deliver the industry’s first dynamic model that links risk management directly to operational systems, enabling electric utilities to proactively prevent outages, prepare for extreme weather events, and mitigate catastrophic wildfires effectively.

The newly introduced platform seamlessly connects Overstory's risk prediction models, which leverage artificial intelligence, with the central systems utilized by electric utilities. This integration allows providers to not only detect potential hazards but also prioritize response efforts and create actionable reports that demonstrate regulatory compliance and efficient risk reduction for every dollar invested.

At the heart of this new technology are the pioneering AI models trained on millions of miles of utility infrastructure data, which have already been adopted by leading electric service providers across North America. By synthesizing these risk assessment models with real-time operational data, the platform offers utilities a comprehensive overview of risks associated with their networks, empowering them to make informed decisions about infrastructure management and emergency response.

The Drivers of Change

Extreme weather remains a critical threat to the reliability of electric service worldwide, with electrical infrastructures often implicated in some of the most devastating wildfires on record. Traditionally, electric utilities have relied on well-established vegetation management programs and in-house meteorological expertise to address these challenges. Despite these resources, many utilities struggle to coordinate the diverse array of data available, including satellite imagery for vegetation assessment, outage reports, and work orders, which often exist in silos.

Overstory's platform addresses this disconnect, enabling electric utilities to gain essential visibility into their networks to identify high-risk areas, determine effective mitigation strategies, and measure the impact of their efforts on reducing risks. This is increasingly vital as utilities face mounting pressure from regulatory bodies to demonstrate the effectiveness of their investments in risk management.

A Comprehensive Approach

Overstory’s technology is built around several key pillars:

• - Physical: By utilizing satellite and aerial imagery, LiDAR data, and weather condition information, the platform creates a thorough representation of the utility's landscape and network.
• - Predictive: It accurately forecasts where outages and wildfires are most likely to occur, assessing how these probabilities change alongside weather fluctuations and vegetation growth.
• - Prescriptive: The platform also evaluates the trade-offs between the cost of different mitigation strategies and the level of risk each method can effectively reduce.
• - Operational: Integral to the platform is its compatibility with existing systems used by utility planners and field teams through partnerships with industry peers such as Watch Duty and Fulcrum.
• - Measurable: Completed tasks are re-integrated into Overstory's platform, allowing utilities to provide clear evidence of risk reduction achieved against each dollar spent to regulators and stakeholders.

Empowering Utility Providers

“Utilities are highly knowledgeable about their networks but often struggle to comprehend the dynamic natural world surrounding them,” stated Fiona Spruill, CEO of Overstory. “For too long, managing these risks required wading through fragmented systems. Overstory provides a cohesive view of the electric grid and its environment, empowering utility managers to anticipate threats and take action with confidence.”

The emergence of fire risks, storms, and vegetation-related hazards is no longer merely a matter of routine maintenance; these issues are now central to how utilities plan, allocate resources, and are held accountable by regulatory authorities. Overstory's platform equips them with the foresight necessary to take prompt action, thereby reducing outages, enhancing storm preparedness, and preventing catastrophic wildfires in the communities they serve.

This groundbreaking platform will be showcased to electric utility executives at the upcoming DTECH Northeast and Red Sky Summit events in San Francisco. From storms in the East to wildfires in the West, Overstory’s new platform is designed to help utilities effectively manage the myriad risks resulting from the interplay between nature and the electric grid.

Electric utilities interested in experiencing and evaluating the new platform can visit overstory.com/platform.

About Overstory

Founded to support electric utilities in their mission to ensure reliable service, Overstory is at the forefront of risk management technology. By fusing satellite imagery, sensors, and AI, the platform reveals where outages and fire threats are most likely to occur within a utility's network, models the optimal response strategies, and prioritizes tasks for on-ground teams. With its proven track record, Overstory helps North America’s largest utilities direct resources towards the highest risk areas, ensuring community safety and affordable electricity supply. Recognized by TIME100 Most Influential Companies, Deloitte’s Fast Technology 500, and Norrsken Impact 100, Overstory is committed to innovating for a safer and more reliable electric future.

For further information or inquiries, please contact:
Cait Harding
VP, Marketing
Overstory
[email protected]