Avista
Avista improves wildfire prevention with AVEVA PI System
Avista supplies electricity and natural gas to 800,000 customers in the Pacific Northwest, a region particularly exposed to wildfire risk. The operator had to deal with a complex set of risk indicators deployed across several hundred devices, know precisely when the forecast risk was low enough to allow patrolling and re-energizing, and continuously communicate forecast status to decision-makers. Avista deployed AVEVA PI System to build a wildfire risk dashboard that brings together tens of thousands of data points and provides operators with a simplified view. They can now proactively de-energize at-risk grid sections and efficiently re-energize them as soon as the situation is safe. The benefits extend to several levels: greater availability of critical data, minimized risk of unnecessary delays in patrolling and re-energizing, reduced outage time for customers, and the ability to retrospectively analyze historical forecasts.
Testimonials
FAQ
How does AVEVA PI System help prevent wildfires caused by power lines?
Avista, which serves 800,000 customers in the Pacific Northwest, uses AVEVA PI System to aggregate data from several hundred devices measuring fire risk (humidity, wind, temperature, grid status). The platform streamlines these tens of thousands of data points into a readable dashboard for grid managers, who can proactively de-energize at-risk sections. This preventive capability has become strategic as wildfires linked to climate change increase.
What role does a centralized dashboard play in managing climate risk?
AVEVA PI System gives Avista a single dashboard that aggregates wildfire risk forecasts and the status of the power grid. Decision-makers have a consolidated real-time view to communicate forecast status, plan patrols and authorize re-energization. This centralization transforms crisis management: no more multiple interfaces and information silos, but unified industrial monitoring that speeds up decision-making in the face of major climate events.
How can the timing of power grid re-energization be optimized?
AVEVA PI System enables Avista to determine precisely when the forecast wildfire risk is low enough to authorize patrols and re-energize lines. Real-time and historical data support objective rather than intuitive decisions, minimizing the risk of unnecessary delays. Every hour of reduced outage means less impact on the 800,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers served. The platform makes possible this delicate balance between public safety and continuity of service.
Why is AVEVA PI System strategic for analyzing historical forecasts?
AVEVA PI System archives historical wildfire risk forecast data at high resolution. Avista can now analyze retrospectively how forecasts evolved, compare them with actual events and refine its decision models. This ability to learn from the past is crucial in a context of climate change, where historical patterns are shifting. The platform turns each wildfire season into a source of continuous improvement for risk models and operating procedures.
What concrete benefits does an AVEVA solution bring to an energy utility facing wildfires?
For Avista, AVEVA PI System improves the availability of critical data, minimizes the risk of unnecessary patrol delays and reduces outage times for customers. Beyond the operational benefits, it protects the utility's legal liability and reputation: a wildfire caused by a power line can cost billions and jeopardize a company's future. AVEVA thus becomes a key risk management tool for energy companies in exposed areas.