AI could help electric utilities improve asset efficiency, assess wildfire risk, manage vegetation, recover from storms and optimize energy use—but it could also introduce privacy, security and decision-quality risks. That was the conditional outlook presented by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to Congress on October 19, 2023, not proof that the projected benefits have been achieved.
What EPRI told Congress about AI and energy
Jeremy Renshaw, EPRI’s senior technical executive, testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security. He summed up the outlook this way: “Clearly, AI will have a significant impact on the energy industry, likely both positive and negative.”
EPRI framed AI as a tool that could support an affordable, reliable clean-energy transformation. Its anticipated benefits were tied to safety, affordability, reliability, efficiency and environmentally friendly energy production. The testimony did not quantify those benefits or establish that they had already been realized.
What AI could do for electric utilities
EPRI’s examples focused on utility and energy-company operations, not consumer-facing AI products. They describe possible uses rather than measured results.
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Improve the efficiency of existing assets
AI could help operators improve how existing energy assets are used. The testimony did not specify a particular technology, efficiency gain or deployment outcome.
Evaluate wildfire risk and support early detection
Utilities could use AI to assess wildfire risk and support early-stage detection. These applications depend on the data available to the model and should not be mistaken for a guarantee that fires will be prevented or detected in every case.
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Assist vegetation management and storm recovery
AI could support vegetation-management work and recovery after storms. EPRI identified these as operational possibilities but did not report quantified improvements in response time, cost or reliability.
Optimize energy use
AI could help optimize energy use. The testimony did not give a specific optimization method or measure the resulting energy savings.
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Risks and safeguards EPRI identified
Renshaw’s testimony emphasized that useful applications depend on how AI is built and used. EPRI identified several issues that energy organizations would need to address:
- Data privacy and security: Information used by AI models must be protected.
- Cybersecurity: AI can be used in cybersecurity applications, while also creating or contributing to security threats.
- Data quality and sufficiency: Inadequate or poor-quality data can contribute to erroneous results that inform decisions.
- Workforce training: Workers need to recognize when AI is appropriate to use.
The testimony also pointed to controls and testing, robust datasets and explainability as ways to build confidence in deployed models. These measures address important implementation concerns; they do not, by themselves, demonstrate that a model is accurate or safe for every use.
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How to interpret EPRI’s project figure
EPRI said it had been involved in more than 70 AI application projects in the energy sector as of October 19, 2023. This is EPRI’s reported figure at that date, not an independently audited count or a current total. The announcement did not establish how many projects reached deployment or what outcomes they produced.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the testimony does—and does not—establish
The testimony provides a snapshot of EPRI’s view in October 2023: AI had potential operational uses, but its effects could be positive or negative and depended on responsible implementation. It does not provide a present-day assessment of the sector, evidence of realized system-wide benefits, or a comparison of vendors and products.
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- SAFETY YOU CAN TRUST WITH UL CERTIFICATION: With Emporia Energy, your home energy monitoring is safe, reliable, and certified. The Emporia Vue is UL Listed, meaning it has met rigorous safety standards for electrical products in the U.S. and Canada. This certification ensures that every component has been thoroughly tested to prevent hazards, such as overheating, short-circuiting, or fire, offering you peace of mind as you manage your home’s energy consumption.
- INSTALLS IN CIRCUIT PANEL of most homes with clamp-on sensors. Supports Single phase, Single-split phase, and 2-wire systems. 3-wire systems; 3-phase, 4-wire Wye systems with earthed (TN or TT) neutral (no-Delta) are supported with an additional 200A sensor (sold separately).
- 24/7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Automate, manage and control your home's real power anywhere, anytime to prevent costly repairs, conserve energy, and save costs. Monitor solar / net metering. PROTECTED BY A 1-YEAR WARRANTY.
- LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL: Configure settings in the Emporia Energy App to automate energy management for time of use, peak demand, excess solar, and rewards programs. You can even see live reporting and invaluable savings opportunities instantly. Gauge real-time spending and get actionable notifications and automated energy management to help you reduce costs.
- REAL-TIME ENERGY DATA: REQUIRES 2.4 GHz WIFI WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION to monitor energy use with iPhone / Android / Web app. Vue sensors collect energy data and are accurate from ±2%. The Vue is UL and CE Listed for your safety. 1 second data is only available in the app (when actively open) and retained 3 hours. Minute and hour data are retained in the cloud. 1 minute data is retained 7 days, 1 hour data is retained indefinitely. Export cloud data whenever you want in the app.
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