As of 2025, digital transformation in the utility sector is well underway. Most electric utilities have already initiated modernization projects, integrated distributed energy resources (DERs), and begun leveraging data to improve decision-making. What’s changed is the pace of expectations and the narrowing margin for experimentation.

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.

Severe winter storms pose a persistent challenge to North America’s electrical grid, introducing complex failure modes that impact transmission and distribution infrastructure. The effects of ice accretion, sub-zero temperatures, and sustained high winds degrade asset performance, leading to increased load imbalances, insulation breakdown, and potential cascading failures. For engineering leads in Operations & Maintenance (O&M), these conditions necessitate a shift from reactive troubleshooting to predictive maintenance and strategic asset management.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) support the deployment of renewable power generation while improving the overall efficiency, reliability, and economic viability of these technologies. Grid-scale batteries are essential to managing the impact of renewable energy on the power grid and handling variations in supply and demand to keep the grid stable and reliable.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are an essential technology that will help to enable the transition toward renewable energy. BESS facilities make it possible to capture the energy produced from wind and solar photovoltaic and deploy it when needed, balancing the intermittency of these renewable energy sources and improving the stability of the grid.

Downstream oil & gas operations begin after the production phase and involve turning crude oil and natural gas into the finished products used by consumers and end-users. The global downstream segment is estimated to be worth US$1.15 trillion, demonstrating the sector’s important role in bringing usable products to the market.

Battery energy storage systems, also called battery storage power stations, are advanced solutions designed to store, manage, and release electrical energy when power is needed most. As investment in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar grows, battery energy storage systems (BESS) will enable utilities to transition away from fossil fuels while meeting growing electricity demand.

A typical downstream refinery has thousands of components, parts, and assets, each with unique maintenance requirements, operating tolerances, and lifespan. At the same time, aging infrastructure, severe weather, and changing regulatory requirements further complicate the role of Asset Integrity Managers and the Operations & Maintenance departments.

Transformers are critical assets, and any failure can have severe and long-lasting consequences. In the most extreme cases, a transformer failure caused by a lack of proper maintenance can result in widespread outages, costly repairs, and regulatory fines.