Vegetation Management and Grid Hardening
Essential Strategies for Wildfire Prevention by Electric Companies
The escalating frequency and intensity of wildfires have expanded the role of electric companies from provider of power into protector of communities. Catastrophic blazes, fueled by climate change and exacerbated by aging infrastructure, are now an ever-present threat.
To combat this, utilities are having to adopt a multi-faceted approach—with vegetation management and grid hardening at its core.…
Thread and FlyGuys Forge Strategic Partnership to Aid Utility Inspection
Grand Forks, ND, and Lafayette, LA – March 17, 2025 – Thread, a leading software-as-a-service provider specializing in asset data management for electric utilities, and FlyGuys, a nationwide market leader in reality data capture technology, are excited to announce a strategic partnership aimed at transforming utility asset management through cutting-edge technology and comprehensive data solutions.…
The Role of AI in Utilities
Today, many utilities don’t have the necessary inputs to accurately apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a useful way. In fact, many don’t even know where their poles are located, let alone how to apply AI to their data models. Little do they know, the possibilities are endless – from detecting damage and defects on poles, to understanding how and where to divert electricity during storm events.…
Improving Grid Health With Real-Time Collaboration: The Benefits of Centralized Asset Management for Utilities
Maintaining grid health is central to the successful operation of any modern electric utility, yet, in many organizations, we continue to see evidence of poor cohesion between field operations and central management. Oftentimes this can prevent timely interventions.
Centralized asset management systems, including UNITI Workspace, are making life easier by enabling real-time collaboration across teams and geographies.…
Grid Resilience in the Face of Climate and Cyber ThreatsÂ
The dual threat of climate change and cyberattacks pose an existential challenge for utility providers and their dated infrastructure. The US alone has 500,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, and around 83% of major power outages are caused by weather-related events. As these events increase in frequency, resilience is no longer an aspirational goal but a critical necessity. Â
Composable Architectures: A Must-Have for Agile Electric Utility Operations
Improved agility is now a focus for modern electric utilities as they take on the myriad challenges of infrastructure modernization, data management, and regulatory compliance. Old legacy systems cannot be integrated, adapted or scaled with modern tech. This means utilities are left reactive, error prone, and slow to respond, which ultimately compromises grid reliability and increases operational costs.
Data Automation for Utilities
Electric utilities are facing a major data problem. With over 600,000 miles of transmission lines in the U.S. and more than 5.5 million miles of distribution lines, the volume of data generated from inspecting the country’s aging infrastructure is increasingly overwhelming. Many utilities still rely on manual processes to collect and organize this data, making it difficult to extract useful insights, collaborate effectively, and make informed decisions. Â
Asset Performance Management and Decision Intelligence: How Utilities are Using Technology to Transform Asset Assessment
Asset Performance Management (APM) is moving through a rapid transformation, and industry players are finding their way to an intelligent, sustainable business model while also ensuring the quality and reliability of existing services to partners and communities. With the US alone committing over $594bn to decarbonization and electrification plans – and utilities moving quickly to accommodate next generation infrastructure – technology is a more important enabler than ever before.
Lessons From Hurricane Beryl and the Promise of Modern Utility Inspections
The recent devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl has highlighted the vulnerability of utility infrastructure to natural disasters. In Houston, the collapse of ten transmission lines disrupted power for 2.8 million customers, with nearly 150,000 left without power for an extended period.
This event underscores the pressing need to reevaluate and upgrade utility inspection standards, which currently rely on outdated methods and technologies.…
Thread Adds Longtime Utility Executive Kevin Moug to Its Board of Directors
[Grand Forks, North Dakota] Thread, the leader in digital-first asset inspection catering to the energy and utility sectors, is excited to announce the appointment of Kevin Moug to its Board of Directors. Kevin brings an impressive 42 years of experience in public accounting, utilities, and manufacturing, and recently retired as the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Otter Tail Corporation (Nasdaq: OTTR).…
