A Power Panel Discussion on Monitoring, Diagnostics, and Reliability
This panel discussion was held on Feb 27, 2025. It was moderated by Alan Ross, CEO and Managing Editor of Transformer Technology magazine.
Brad Bowness, CIO at Systems With Intelligence, and Mark Tostrud, Technology Officer at Dynamic Ratings, discussed cutting-edge tools, technologies, and strategies designed to optimize power system reliability.
The power industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Aging infrastructure, growing demand, and the increasing volatility of environmental conditions are putting immense pressure on utilities to enhance reliability while optimizing costs.
In a recent panel discussion, industry experts, including Brad Bowness, Chief Information Officer at Systems With Intelligence, explored the future of monitoring, diagnostics, and maintenance. The conversation highlighted the necessity of shifting from reactive maintenance to condition-based monitoring (CBM) to prevent failures, reduce operational costs, and extend asset life.
The Shift from Time-Based to Condition-Based Maintenance
For decades, utilities have relied on time-based maintenance strategies—scheduling equipment inspections and servicing at predetermined intervals. However, this approach often results in unnecessary maintenance on assets that are performing well while missing critical warning signs on those at risk of failure.
Brad Bowness emphasized the importance of real-time data collection and predictive analytics to move away from outdated maintenance practices:
"Utilities are under a lot of pressure to harness their existing asset base to its fullest. Regulators, investors, and customers—from a rate base and an impact on rates perspective—are really looking for utilities to get the most out of their existing assets. Putting monitors in place allows utilities to make better decisions, have better insight on their assets, and stretch the life of the infrastructure."
The key takeaway: Condition-based monitoring enables utilities to act on real-time data rather than relying on static schedules, improving both asset performance and financial efficiency.
Beyond Pilots: Scaling Monitoring Programs for Maximum Impact
While many utilities have experimented with monitoring solutions, not all of them have implemented them at scale. Bowness noted that utilities tend to start with pilot projects but often struggle to transition into full-scale, programmatic deployments.
"Utilities are really good at piloting things. You can always get a bit of money out of an R&D group or innovation group to try something new. But to get into the programmatic view, you have to have some wins. And that’s what we’re starting to see—real-world examples from utilities where we’re seeing those wins or those saves."
The industry is at a tipping point where successful implementations are proving the value of CBM, providing the business case needed to secure executive buy-in. The message is clear: It is no longer enough to experiment—utilities must move from pilots to full-scale deployment.
The Role of AI and Advanced Analytics in Monitoring
As utilities collect increasing amounts of data, AI-driven analytics are becoming essential for making sense of sensor readings, thermal imaging, and other monitoring inputs. Systems With Intelligence has been at the forefront of this transformation, leveraging Touchless™ Monitoring solutions that combine thermal and visual sensors with advanced analytics to detect anomalies before they become critical failures.
Bowness emphasized the power of centralizing data across assets:
"We are trying to build the monitoring and grid capabilities for the next 25 to 50 years. And in order to do that, we have to be programmatic about it. We can’t just be treating these as R&D projects or innovation projects. They really have to have that vision and sponsorship to get to that critical volume of data to generate insights."
By integrating monitoring data into centralized analytics platforms, utilities can correlate operational trends, detect failures early, and optimize asset management.
Overcoming the Implementation Challenge
One of the greatest barriers to deploying CBM at scale is securing investment and regulatory approval. Utility decision-makers are often stretched thin, managing outages, customer demands, and regulatory compliance. Bowness pointed out that having a business champion dedicated to asset monitoring programs is critical to success:
"People working within the utility are super busy. They’re dealing with outages, projects, customer issues, regulatory issues—everything coming at them. It’s hard to find time in the day to think about things from a value proposition perspective. So I think having a business champion who can take a step back and think strategically is really important."
Developing a clear value proposition—one that considers avoided costs, regulatory compliance, and long-term asset health—is key to obtaining executive support.
The Future of Utility Monitoring is Proactive, Not Reactive
The insights from this panel discussion underscore the need for utilities to move beyond traditional maintenance strategies and embrace data-driven decision-making. Condition-based monitoring is no longer a nice-to-have—it is an operational necessity.
Utilities that invest in predictive monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and programmatic implementation will be best positioned to navigate the challenges of aging infrastructure, budget constraints, and increasing reliability expectations.
Systems With Intelligence is leading the way in substation-grade thermal and visual monitoring solutions, helping utilities transition from reactive to proactive asset management. By implementing scalable CBM programs today, utilities can ensure a resilient, efficient, and future-ready grid.
Interested in learning how Touchless™ Monitoring can transform your utility's reliability strategy? Connect with us at info@systemswithintelligence.com to explore cutting-edge solutions tailored to your operational needs.