Reimagining Our New Energy Future

Arguably, next to the power generation and the electric grid, AI is fast becoming the most powerful technology humanity has ever created. But the question for energy leaders isn’t just what AI can do, its who will power it. Teaming up with our partners at Energy Central, we will be launching a limited edition 6 part article/podcast series called “Grid Locked” exploring what this means for the energy industry.

In this issue we share a sneak peek alongside our traditional news updates!

• Who Will Power the AI-Driven Future a limited edition podcast series

• Consumers Energy gets the green light for critical grid upgrades

• The latest wildfire watch, link to the AP’s interactive containment map

• California’s latest rate decision cuts $737M from SCE’s request

• A clever utility-focused energy-efficiency solution from Arbor Day Foundation was featured on our Piloting the Future podcast with a free tree give-away!

LEAD STORY

Who Will Power the AI Driven Future: A New 6 Part Limited Podcast and Article Series

As expected, July delivered major developments on AI infrastructure led by the White House’s release of America’s AI Action Plan.

If you haven’t read the plan yet, you can find it here ➝

It is a sweeping federally coordinated policy framework announced by the White House. It outlines the U.S. strategy to lead in artificial intelligence by scaling data infrastructure and coordinating public-private deployment.

The plan is being implemented through executive action and relies on existing agency charters and executive directives to lay out more than ambitions, but produce action. For example, construction has already begun on Project Stargate in Abilene, Texas, OpenAI’s projected $500 billion AI data center initiative, supported by Oracle, SoftBank, and MGX with plans to generate 4-5 GW of data center capacity, generation that is equivalent to multiple nuclear reactors.

To help navigate the new normal and predict its impact on the energy industry, we’re launching a limited six-part article + podcast series asking: who will power our AI-driven energy future? We’ll trace capital flows, and policy shifts with thought leaders and experts who believe this will be game-changing reform with consequences that could change the future of the utility, as we know it. 

TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AT THE SERIES →

GRID MODERNIZATION NEWS

CONSUMER’S $153M DISTRIBUTION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT APPROVED

March 21 2025: The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved specific investments and initiatives within Consumers Energy's proposed Distribution Infrastructure Investment Plan (EDIIP) 2024-2028, prioritizing actions aimed at improving electric grid reliability and reducing customer outages. 

The MPSC approved several key areas: 

• Tree Trimming: Full funding of $125 million for tree trimming was approved. The MPSC also asked Consumers Energy to analyze the benefits of a faster tree-trimming cycle.

• Targeted Low-Voltage Distribution Investments: Investments to reduce outages for customers experiencing them frequently (four or more per year) were approved. The goal is to reduce the number of these customers to 6%, meeting MPSC's Service Quality Rules.

• High-Voltage Distribution Enhancements: Investments to improve grid reliability through capacity upgrades and new technologies were approved.

• LVD Line Reliability & Resilience Investment Recovery: $86.3 million was approved for the second year of restricted, proactive recovery for low-voltage distribution line reliability, resilience, and system protection investments.

• System Modernization: Investments in technology to quickly identify faults and automatically reroute power to minimize outages were approved. 

These approved investments aim to address reliability issues and create a more resilient electric system for Consumers Energy customers.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK→

Challenge Spotlight: Substation Load and Health Monitoring

Consumers operates over 1,100 substations, many of which are aging and operating under increasing electrical loads. While current inspection methods (aerial, ground, and pole) provide some insight into asset condition, they lack the frequency and precision needed to proactively manage equipment loading and health.

With a significant portion of HVD and SEC substations requiring repair or replacement, and some nearing 100 years in age, the risk of equipment failure and unplanned outages is growing. Inadequate load monitoring could lead to costly disruptions, impact thousands of customers, and undermine reliability goals.

The Company seeks to enhance operational reliability by improving real-time load monitoring and predictive health assessments across its substation network. This would enable timely maintenance, extend asset life, and ensure capacity for future load growth—all while reducing outage risk and improving customer trust.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK→

Solution Spotlight: Edge Zero

The Distribution Transformer Monitoring solution by Edge Zero provides real-time monitoring at the transformer level, which is crucial for understanding and managing overload issues, especially those caused by DER integration. By delivering granular, real-time data on voltage, current, and power quality, it allows utilities to effectively manage load distribution and prevent overloads, supporting VVO schemes for voltage regulation. This ensures enhanced reliability and safety of the distribution network, accommodating both current and future DER growth. 

WILDFIRES AND WEATHER NEWS

Wildfire Watch August 7, 2025:

1. France — The Aude region is engulfed in France's largest wildfire since 1949. With over 15,000 hectares burned, evacuations are underway and hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze under worsening drought and heat.

2. California — The Gifford Fire has erupted into the largest fire of the year, scorching 91,000 acres in Central California. With only 9% containment, it's posing a dire threat to surrounding communities. See the AP’s interactive real-time maps of the containment.

3. North America — Smoke from Canadian wildfires is drifting across the U.S., clouding skies and spurring unhealthy air alerts across the Eastern states.

PG&E misses profit estimates hit by higher operating, maintenance costs due to wildfires

July 31, Reuters: California’s largest utility, PG&E, reported $2.86 b in operating and maintenance costs, up from last year, directly tied to wildfire-related claims and mitigation spending. PG&E plans to install nearly 700 miles of underground power lines and conduct 500 miles of safety upgrades between 2025 and 2026 to prevent future outages.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK→

California Moves to Modernize and Curb Costs in Latest SCE Rate Decision

On July 28, 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a Proposed Decision in Southern California Edison’s (SCE) multiyear General Rate Case, setting the tone for how the state will balance reliability, climate goals, and affordability through 2028.

While the commission approved major investments in wildfire mitigation, infrastructure upgrades, and clean energy readiness, it also delivered a message on cost control—cutting $727 million from SCE’s original request.

What’s in the Decision:

• Wildfire Mitigation Funded: Undergrounding lines in high-risk areas remains a priority, backed by significant capital allocation.

• Aging Infrastructure Gets a Lifeline: Funding supports grid upgrades aimed at long-term safety and reliability.

• Clean Energy Future: Investments prepare the system for increased demand from electrification and California’s net-zero goals.

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK→

Solution Spotlight: Gridwrap Wildfire Armor for Utility Poles

As global temperatures rise and drought conditions worsen, wildfires have become more intense, frequent, and destructive. Utility infrastructure — particularly overhead distribution and transmission lines — has been a known source of ignition in many large-scale wildfires. Aging wooden poles are especially vulnerable, and existing wildfire mitigation strategies, such as vegetation management or undergrounding, are either too costly, difficult to scale, or ineffective during extreme weather. Utilities urgently need practical, cost-efficient tools to harden infrastructure and reduce ignition risk, especially in high-risk zones. 

BullWrap® is a fire-resistant composite wrap designed to serve as both an ignition barrier and structural reinforcement system for utility poles.

The product has been validated through accelerated aging and fire testing, including third-party assessments by Western Fire Center and NIAR. BullWrap® is commercially available today and meets the ENA pole fire resistance standards. 

PILOTING THE FUTURE PODCAST

Podcast Spotlight: Arbor Day Foundation

Utilities face growing pressure to reduce consumption, meet environmental targets, and engage customers—all while navigating regulatory complexity and performance mandates. The Energy-Saving Trees Distribution Program offers a proven, science-backed solution that addresses these challenges through strategic tree planting.

By distributing trees to residential customers and guiding optimal planting locations, utilities can reduce peak energy demand, improve air quality, mitigate stormwater runoff, and build lasting community goodwill. T

Justin McQuistan dropped in on an episode of “Piloting the Future” to share more about how the Arbor Day solution uses peer-reviewed data and satellite mapping to calculate measurable energy savings, carbon sequestration, and environmental impact, giving utilities defensible metrics to meet regulatory and sustainability goals. We even teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation to give trees to our first 200 listeners. Learn more by listening to the podcast!

THE LAST WORD

AI TRENDS SPOTLIGHT

In this edition, the last word goes to our CEO Kim Getgen whose 6 part limited series on America’s AI Action Plan will be featured on Energy Central’s Piloting the Future podcast.