Orange-based utility company Avangrid Inc. is using artificial intelligence to help technicians diagnose wind turbine problems and deploy drones to inspect more than 24,000 miles of power lines, part of a broader push to automate critical infrastructure operations.
The company highlighted these AI applications during its fifth annual Digital Summit this week, where 14 technology firms including Amazon Web Services, IBM and Microsoft demonstrated digital services for the energy sector.
Avangrid’s “First Time Right Autopilot” uses generative AI to help field technicians quickly identify and resolve issues on wind turbines, bringing them back into service faster.
Meantime, Central Maine Power, an Avangrid subsidiary, is using AI-powered drones to map distribution lines and detect potential risks to improve grid reliability.
The energy company, part of Spanish energy giant Iberdrola Group, said it has deployed AI across multiple operations as utilities nationwide seek to automate aging infrastructure.
“Unlocking the power of AI is not just about adopting new tools, it’s about transforming how we serve our customers, operate our systems, and lead the energy industry,” said Jose Antonio Miranda, CEO of Avangrid.
The company’s New York utilities have also enhanced an AI assistant called Ava to provide customers with better estimated restoration times during power outages.
“Technology is no longer a tool, but the backbone of our operations, enabling smarter and faster decisions that bring us to a more resilient energy landscape,” said Nelly Jefferson, Avangrid’s chief information officer.
The participating technology companies demonstrated products incorporating advanced analytics, machine learning and robotics designed to address challenges in the utility industry.
Avangrid operates eight electric and natural gas utilities serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. The company also owns and operates 80 energy generation facilities across the United States with a combined capacity of 10.5 gigawatts.
The Orange-based company employs approximately 8,000 people and has assets valued at about $48 billion.
