I read a story this week about how Alabama Power, the state's largest power utility, was using sensor data analytics to figure out where and how to disburse capital on improvement projects. The utility operates in a largely rural territory hyper-prone to natural disaster — Alabama is susceptible to the harrowing trifecta of thunderstorms, tornados and, at its southern panhandle, hurricanes.
Deploying sensor data tools, the utility found where to pilot new recloser technology — which they later found saved them over 106,000 minutes of customer disruptions and nearly $16,000 in truck operation costs from not having to send crews out to these locations during outages. After installing more reclosers, Alabama Power then used them to boost its data collection and then analyzed the data to figure out how it should prioritize capital infrastructure projects in the field.
This type of data collection and analysis is flourishing in the modern utility world, helping power providers to save money and be more intentional and efficient with their investments and priorities. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Energy also announced it was looking into sensor data analytic technologies, announcing an intent to invest millions into projects that can demonstrate how to best deploy sensor data analytics and further modernize the power grids.
For those in the utility field, I'd be curious to know whether and how your company is collecting sensor data and using it to boost your own power system's operation and maintenance.