US energy company Avangrid is using data analytics to prioritise tree maintenance to improve reliability and grid resiliency for its electricity customers.

This method analyses potential impact, historical reliability and risk. It is being piloted at Avangrid’s New York subsidiaries – New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) – and has already delivered benefits.

“We’re always looking to innovative our tree maintenance programmes because trees are a leading cause of outages for our customers,” said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “Launching this data-driven method has evolved our approach and created many efficiencies, particularly when it comes to danger trees. These dead or decaying trees are outside of the distribution right-of-way but still pose a significant threat to the power grid. Our new prioritisation method has resulted in us removing more danger trees in a month than ever before, and at a cheaper cost.”

NYSEG and RG&E operate approximately 69,000 combined kilometres of overhead electric lines across upstate New York, translating to more than 10,600 danger trees posing an immediate risk to customers.

Historically, NYSEG and RG&E have addressed danger trees based on imminent risk identified by customer calls, worst performing circuit reports or the local arborist’s maintenance plans. This data-driven approach improves on this method by using data analysis to ensure reliability is at the forefront of decisions.

The system analyses critical data points such as historical performance of the line, the number of users served by the line, the number of high-risk trees and the type of protectant on the line – bare or covered. From this, it determines a level of priority for removing the danger trees. NYSEG and RG&E arborists then create a detailed work plan based on these priorities.

“This approach has been a game changer,” said Erin Perry, in charge of vegetation management at NYSEG. “With all our data pulled together into one system, I can look at our service area map and see not only where the danger trees are located, but also their risk to our customers. I’m pleased with the efficiency this has created and how it has resulted in improved reliability for our customers.”

This data analysis framework is possible thanks to Avangrid’s data consolidation efforts by its operational performance team. This effort integrated millions of data points from across Avangrid’s eight electric and natural gas utilities into one cohesive system, allowing for data analytics in a variety of areas. Avangrid plans to continue evolving its data analytics with tree work by adding more data points, such as the details on tree species, level of tree decay or from the company’s maintenance inspections. It will integrate the company’s computer vision artificial intelligence (AI) system to help identify risks and field conditions, leading to improved safety for its arborists.  

Avangrid (www.avangrid.com) is headquartered in Orange, Connecticut, with approximately $44bn in assets and operations in 24 US states. It owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million users in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the USA. The company employs approximately 8000 people and is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola (www.iberdrola.com).