The AI Lens on Planning and Valuing Grid Resilience Part 1 - The AI Framework for Affordable Resilience

As electric utilities face compounding pressure from extreme weather, physical threats, and aging assets, traditional grid planning models are reaching their limits. While a new generation of AI and agentic tools promises to transform how utilities analyze and defend grid investments, separating actual utility-grade capability from vendor hype remains a challenge.

Part 1 of this interactive course establishes a grounded, practical baseline for how utility leaders, planners, and regulatory staff should evaluate AI, assuring affordable and reliable power delivery. Designed as an intro-level, practitioner-led overview exercised across dozens of utility engagements, this foundational session explores how to treat AI as an augmented planner that can extend human engineering judgment rather than attempting to replace it.

In Part 1, presenters will cover:

• Demystifying AI for Utilities: Moving past the hype—what AI and agentic workflows actually mean for grid analytics, asset management, and planning for small, mid-sized, and large utilities.

• The "Augmented Planner" Mindset: Framing AI as a force multiplier that extends what analysts can see, test, and defend rather than a replacement for engineering judgment.
• A Cross-Functional Framework: A structured approach to mapping AI tools directly against heavy planning, regulatory, and valuation workloads.
• Navigating the Boundaries: An honest look at current technical limitations, data quality constraints, governance considerations, and risk management in regulatory environments.

This session will be followed by an interactive Q&A and practical takeaways for implementation. Attendees will leave Part 1 with a clear mental framework to evaluate AI capabilities, an understanding of technical limitations, and a vendor-neutral lens for assessing organizational readiness.