AI, Automation, and Collaboration Drive the Next-Gen Grid

• 29 November 2025
• International News
• 721 Views

Electric utilities worldwide face major challenges: rising demand, aging infrastructure, and a shrinking workforce. A recent panel hosted by Bentley Systems at its Year in Infrastructure conference, “Wired for the Future: AI, Automation, and the Next-Gen Grid,” highlighted how industry leaders are tackling these issues using technology.

Panelists, including executives from Georgia Power, Eurelectric, and Burns & McDonnell, stressed the need to treat data as a valuable asset. Georgia Power shared how advanced data analytics helped them identify and modernize the worst-performing distribution lines, leading to a 50% improvement in reliability for those circuits over six years.

The discussion emphasized the strategic adoption of AI and automation. For example, AI models are used by utilities like Georgia Power to predict the location and severity of power outages before storms hit. This allows for the proactive staging of resources, leading to faster, more accurate restoration times and improved customer satisfaction.

Besides, the discussion also focuses on the benefits of automated design. Tools that automate tedious tasks, such as reviewing images and designs of existing structures, allow engineers to work more efficiently, speeding up project delivery.

The experts agreed that the shift to automation is not about eliminating jobs, but evolving them. There is a critical need to upskill the existing workforce as roles become more technology-focused. As one panelist stated, “AI is not going to replace people; AI will replace people who don’t use AI.”

Panelists also called for a breakdown of “silos,” urging utilities, engineering firms, and regulators to embrace digital collaboration for planning and operations to build a more resilient and future-ready power grid.

• AI
• Bentley Systems
• Automation
• Next-Gen Grid