Exploring AI’s potential for improved service and reliability

A message from the director of corporate and member services, Laura Smith

Like it or not, artificial intelligence seems inescapable. Even a quick Google search produces an AI-generated smorgasbord of results, rather than a simple list of links. AI is even shaping conversations about the future of energy.

While news headlines often focus on the rapid growth of AI, electric cooperatives are taking a measured approach to understanding how these tools might help improve service for the local communities we serve.

For Butler Rural Electric Cooperative, our goal is not to adopt AI technology simply because it’s new. Instead, any tool or innovation must provide a clear benefit to our members, whether that’s improving power reliability, increasing operational efficiency, or helping our team make better-informed decisions. As we explore AI tools, we are doing so cautiously, evaluating where it can add value while maintaining a strong focus on member needs, privacy, and system reliability.

One area where AI shows promise is electricity load forecasting. Electric demand changes throughout the day and fluctuates significantly during periods of extreme weather. Advanced forecasting tools can analyze historical data, weather patterns, and additional factors to help predict when electricity use is likely to increase. Better forecasts allow us to prepare for higher demand, manage resources more effectively, and support reliable service during peak periods.

Al tools are also being used to provide additional information to consumers to allow them to make better decisions regarding their energy use. The enhanced data analytics tool available through SmartHub is one such application. This tool looks at energy patterns and information you provide regarding your home setup. The result is an energy report showing you a detailed breakdown of where your energy dollars are being spent.

Other tools being investigated in the industry involve the use of image recognition to help monitor vegetation growth near power lines and predict areas where it may become problematic, allowing the utility to concentrate efforts in areas where it is most effective. As a small cooperative, we need our technology use to be cost-effective and we have not adopted this technology. But, we can see it becoming more cost-effective as it develops and we’re investigating the use of drones to possibly be a source of this type of imagery.

Beyond the electric system itself, AI could also improve day-to-day operations. For example, AI tools can assist office employees by summarizing lengthy reports, organizing member feedback, and analyzing large amounts of data. These types of tools could help our team spend less time on repetitive administrative tasks and more time focusing on members and addressing our community’s energy needs.

Even with these potential benefits, we recognize AI is not a cure-all. Human oversight remains essential, and decisions that affect our members will never rely solely on automated systems.

As AI tools evolve, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative will continue exploring their potential. But, as with any new technology, adoption will be guided by a simple principle — if an AI tool helps improve reliability, efficiency, or services for our members, it’s worth considering. If it doesn’t, we will continue exploring solutions that do.