"It's making the same decisions that we were making as dispatchers and humans, only probably making them a multitude of times faster," Wade said. In the following decade, EPB spent another $115.5 ...

Utilities are cautiously embracing AI for predictive maintenance and fieldwork support as data centers and climate change strain the energy grid.

When they spend money on the grid, they are certain to make money. JON WELLINGHOFF: So they are not incented to provide better service. They're not incented to be more efficient.

The power grid is too old and simple for the growth of extreme weather, EVs, and renewable energy. Chattanooga's utility built a $280 million smart grid, creating $2.7 billion in economic value. This ...