As operational challenges multiply, some utilities have found drones to be an effective tool to optimize limited resources and maintain safe and reliable service. Many utilities have either hired drone service providers that use professional pilots or started dedicated aviation units with their utility. In contrast, Skydio uses artificial intelligence to interpret the visual data coming from the fisheye cameras that serve as a drone’s “eyes.”

Memphis Light, Gas and Water has hired PLP Inspection Services, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle contractor, to inspect the public power utility’s electric transmission system structures with drones over the next six weeks, it said on June 24.

In an effort to aid crews in identifying hazardous vegetation growth in a sometimes heavily forested service territory, the Eugene Water and Electric Board is utilizing a new satellite-based forestry analytics software called Overstory, the Oregon public power utility recently reported.

A new substation is now operational in Hurricane City, Utah, a public power community.

Florida public power utility Kissimmee Utility Authority has launched a new online energy assessment tool to assist customers with managing their energy bill.