FirstEnergy Corp. has introduced a new program designed to predict and reduce tree-related outages across its six-state service area. The company's vegetation management team developed the AI-driven program to identify where trees pose the most risk to the electric system, particularly before winter and summer storm seasons.
The Advanced Vegetation Analytics Tool (AVAT) uses data from various sources, including soil, weather, roadway information, historical outage data, geographical typography, and high-resolution aerial patrol photos. These data sets work together to identify patterns and calculate the likelihood of a tree falling on power lines or equipment.
A video clip explaining the AVAT tool is available on FirstEnergy's YouTube channel.
Trees are a leading cause of power outages in the electric utility industry. FirstEnergy’s service territory includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, and parts of New York. This area encompasses some of the most densely forested regions in the country with varied terrain that poses challenges for vegetation management.
Tyler Woody, General Manager of Distribution Vegetation Management Operations at FirstEnergy said: “Not only is this tool helping us to keep the electricity flowing safely and reliably to our customers, but it is also helping us manage crews and our budget more efficiently. By using this data tool to study the type of vegetation conditions in each area and the proximity to our power lines, we can better recommend the right type of equipment crews and contractors will need to bring with them to trim the first time they go out.”
The AVAT tool complements FirstEnergy’s annual vegetation management methods which involve professional tree crews assessing vegetation across their service area. Additionally, proactive aerial inspections using helicopters equipped with infrared and ultraviolet technology help ensure that high-voltage power lines remain clear of trees that cannot be observed from ground inspections.
Based on these inspections' findings, various methods such as aerial saws or mechanical equipment may be used for vegetation control. Crews also trim trees along rights-of-way on a four-year cycle.
FirstEnergy encourages following them on X and Facebook for tips and resources related to electrical safety at home.
FirstEnergy serves six million customers through one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. Its transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. More information can be found at firstenergycorp.com or by following @FirstEnergyCorp on X.
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CONTACT: Hannah Catlett (440) 554-5346