White paper: Transforming utility operations with asset image analytics

As utility companies face increasing pressures to modernize infrastructure and enhance operational efficiencies, asset image analytics has evolved from a “nice to have” into a strategic imperative. By implementing AI-driven inspections using visual data from drones, satellites, LiDAR, and even cell phone cameras, utilities can enhance strategic decision-making capabilities and operational readiness.

Download our white paper Transforming utility operations with asset image analytics: Strategies and impacts to learn:

Why asset management analytics is essential for utilities

Asset management analytics is transforming how utility companies maintain infrastructure, optimize resources, and prepare for the future. By integrating these insights into a broader strategy, utilities can address challenges, seize opportunities, and drive innovation.

Anticipate maintenance needs proactively

With asset management analytics, utilities can predict maintenance needs, reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of critical infrastructure. Proactive maintenance not only lowers costs but also ensures operational continuity.

Optimize operational efficiency

A holistic approach to utility asset management helps utilities adapt to shifting demands and allocate resources more effectively. Streamlined operations lead to greater agility and resilience in today’s dynamic environment.

Strengthen strategic decision making

Analytics in asset management delivers actionable insights, empowering electric utility leaders to make data-driven decisions. These insights ensure alignment with organizational objectives and compliance with industry regulations.

Improve service reliability and customer trust

Effective asset management for utilities enhances service reliability, minimizes outages, and enables faster response times. Predictive analytics improves operational efficiency, increasing customer satisfaction and fostering stronger engagement.

Support sustainability and future readiness

By leveraging asset management in the utilities industry, organizations can advance sustainability efforts and adopt future-ready technologies. These initiatives position utilities as leaders in innovation and environmental stewardship.

Asset management analytics serves as the foundation for utility companies to optimize operations, exceed customer expectations, and lead the way in sustainable innovation.

Business drivers for asset image analytics

Behind the integration of asset image analytics within utility operations are several key business factors grounded in both economic pressures and operational challenges.

Following are just a few of the factors driving the need for innovation in the utility sector’s approach to asset management and grid modernization.

Escalating operating costs

Utilities are under constant pressure to manage and reduce operating expenses. Asset image analytics can significantly reduce the costs associated with manual inspections and maintenance by reducing truck rolls while enabling more precise identification of issues and targeted interventions.

Increased inspection needs

Aging infrastructure and heightened regulatory demands necessitate more frequent and detailed asset inspections. Traditional methods are often costly and labor-intensive, whereas image analytics allows for rapid, comprehensive assessments of multiple assets over large geographical areas, improving both operational efficiency and effectiveness. Through predictive maintenance and strategic maintenance records, utilities can extend asset lifespan and improve asset reliability.

Compliance requirements

Regulatory bodies often require frequent inspections, adherence to maintenance standards, and detailed documentation. For example, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Standard PRC-005 requires the implementation of maintenance programs for all protection systems, automatic reclosing, and sudden pressure relaying systems affecting the reliability of the Bulk Electric System (BES) to ensure they are kept in working order. Image analytics can streamline compliance processes by providing accurate, up-to-date visual data that can be easily archived, retrieved, and formatted for regulatory reporting, enhancing risk management and helping asset managers manage risk effectively.

Pressure to maximize reliability metrics

To assess the quality of utilities’ management practices, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has developed a series of reliability metrics:

• System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI): The total duration of the average utility customer’s interruption of service lasting 5 minutes or longer
• System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI): How often the average customer experiences an interruption of 5 minutes or greater
• Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI): The average time required to restore service after an interruption
• Customer Average Interruption Frequency Index (CAIFI): How many interruptions each impacted customer experiences
• Momentary Average Interruption Duration Index (MAIDI): The total duration of momentary disruptions (less than 5 minutes)
• Momentary Average Interruption Frequency Index (MAIFI): How often the average customer experiences momentary disruptions

These indices help utilities and regulators evaluate how well the system provides an uninterrupted power supply to customers. Because utilities can leverage image analytics to identify and address potential issues faster and more accurately, they can advance toward reducing outage frequency and duration, leading to improvements across indices and to the overall reliability of their service.

Ready to dive deeper? Download our white paper to explore actionable strategies and real-world case studies on leveraging asset image analytics for utility operations.