The utility industry is at a crossroads. Energy demand is rising, but the skilled workforce needed to maintain the grid is shrinking. Much of the infrastructure is decades old and increasingly prone to issues, while extreme weather and tighter regulations add even more pressure. Transmission and distribution (T&D) field teams, tasked with keeping everything running, are being stretched thin. Artificial intelligence (AI) is providing a path forward. Advances in AI in utilities are modernizing how utilities handle inspections, maintenance, and field operations, AI is helping teams work smarter, faster, and safer. This blog dives into how AI is transforming T&D field strategies to boost grid reliability, streamline tasks, and even reshape the future of fieldwork.
The challenges of modern field operations
T&D fieldwork has never been easy. Crews are responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing miles of power lines, substations, and other assets, often in remote or hazardous areas. This work is becoming more difficult as utilities face a growing set of challenges.
For starters, the workforce is shrinking. Skilled workers are retiring faster than they can be replaced, and it takes time to train new employees. At the same time, the grid itself is aging: 70 percent of transmission lines are over 25 years old and approaching end of 50-80 year lifecycle. Equipment installed decades ago needs more attention, increasing the demand for routine maintenance and repairs. Add to this the impacts of severe weather such as wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and field teams are constantly under pressure to respond quickly while managing risks.
Finally, regulatory requirements have become more rigorous. Utilities are expected to maintain high levels of reliability and safety while documenting every step of their operations. These overlapping demands mean field teams need tools that allow them to work efficiently, stay safe, and keep the grid performing reliably.
Transforming field operations with AI in utilities
Field operations depend on data. Before utilities can address risks, schedule repairs, or optimize resources, they need accurate and reliable information. Yet many field teams are slowed down by outdated tools such as paper forms, spreadsheets, or generic mobile apps that introduce delays and errors, making it harder to get the job done efficiently.
This is where AI in utilities makes an impact. Advanced tools allow field teams to document inspections, equipment conditions, and maintenance activities seamlessly. Some systems can even interpret spoken observations and convert them into structured, organized data. These tools handle a variety of inputs, from text and numbers to checkboxes, while placing everything in the correct format instantly.
Field teams benefit from the efficiencies and accuracy that AI in utilities brings to data collection, helping to save time and minimize errors that affect planning and decision-making. The result is more accurate information, faster workflows, and a stronger foundation for everything from inspections to predictive maintenance.
Scaling inspections with drones and AI
While field teams remain essential for gathering on-the-ground data, the use of AI in utilities, combined with drones, is revolutionizing infrastructure inspections. These tools extend the capabilities of human teams by handling time-consuming and hazardous tasks, allowing inspections to cover more ground with greater efficiency and safety.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on physical inspections or helicopters, drones offer a more adaptable and cost-effective alternative. These systems can analyze real-time data, navigate complex environments, and provide actionable insights into structural damage, vegetation encroachment, or other issues. AI-powered drones also allow for seamless integration into broader workflows, helping utilities transition from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance strategies.
Equipped with high-resolution cameras and advanced sensors, drones capture precise data that AI processes to detect early signs of problems. This shift reduces downtime, improves grid reliability, and enhances worker safety by removing the need for risky manual inspections.
Fixing issues before they happen
Unplanned outages are one of the biggest risks utilities face, and they’re costly for both operations and customers. Predictive maintenance, powered by AI, allows utilities to anticipate equipment failures before they happen, reducing downtime and avoiding expensive emergency repairs.
Here’s how it works: Sensors placed on critical infrastructure, like transformers or circuit breakers, monitor real-time performance metrics such as temperature, vibration, and load. AI systems analyze this field data to spot patterns and anomalies that might indicate an issue is developing. For example, a slight temperature increase could be an early sign that a transformer is starting to fail.
By catching these early warning signs, field teams can schedule maintenance proactively. This approach keeps equipment running longer, prevents unexpected failures, and allows crews to focus on planned tasks instead of scrambling to fix emergencies. For utilities, it means a more reliable grid and better use of resources.
Supporting and protecting field teams with AI
The adoption of AI for utilities is transforming how utility teams work by improving both safety and job satisfaction. Fieldwork often involves hazards, from dangerous heights to unpredictable weather conditions. AI helps teams mitigate these risks by enabling remote assessments and automating repetitive tasks.
Drones equipped with AI can detect downed power lines, vegetation encroachment, or structural damage, keeping workers out of harm’s way. Meanwhile, AI systems analyze environmental data to identify and predict hazards, such as areas near power lines that might require vegetation clearing during wildfire season.
Beyond safety, AI enhances the efficiency of field teams. By automating time-consuming processes like manual field data entry, workers can focus on problem-solving and high-value tasks. For new recruits, tools like augmented reality (AR) provide interactive training that overlays real-time instructions onto equipment, helping them learn complex repairs step by step.
These advancements create a safer, more engaging work environment that supports both experienced workers and new recruits. By reducing risks and streamlining workflows, AI helps utilities attract, retain, and protect their workforce.
The future of AI in utilities
The potential for AI in utilities is enormous. Innovations like advanced robotics, smarter grid systems, and collaborative AI tools are on the horizon, promising to further enhance efficiency, reliability, and safety.
As these technologies evolve, utilities that embrace AI will be better equipped to meet rising energy demands, manage workforce challenges, and adapt to an increasingly complex operating environment. By investing in AI-driven strategies today, companies are building a smarter, stronger grid for tomorrow.
The transformation is well underway, and utilities that seize the opportunity are paving the way for a more resilient, efficient future where field teams have the tools they need to thrive.
Transform your field operations with AI-powered solutions
Struggling with aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, and increased demands on your grid? Fulcrum’s AI-driven platform empowers utility field teams to streamline inspections, improve safety, and embrace proactive maintenance strategies.
See these innovations in action. Get a free demo of Fulcrum and discover how our solutions can help you modernize operations and meet the challenges of tomorrow.