Nearly one-quarter of power outages are a direct result of vegetation, as verified in a 2019 utility forestry census conducted by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and CNUC, a company that provides utility consulting services for various projects in the United States and abroad. The survey found that more than 20% of trees near power lines were in contact with distribution lines, and 25% were overhanging lines. That results in vegetation management consuming the biggest share of a utility company’s budget.

But switching to a proactive vegetation management program can address cost and resiliency concerns, according to a March 2024 Utility Dive article. A data-driven vegetation management program uses pictures of utility lines and remote sensing technology to build trained machine learning models configured to a utility’s trim specifications. Based on that data, the framework assesses risk and compliance.

“Risk frameworks allow utilities to prioritize what work needs to be done now and what can be pushed out, based on actual data,” says Karim Al-Khafaji, head of business development with the satellite data analysis firm Overstory. 

When utilities prioritize work based on data, they can plan how much vegetation maintenance is needed each year, ultimately saving time and money previously spent on inspections and trimming because information provided by satellite can be collected much more quickly than by foot patrols. Crews already in the area can then be deployed to complete work nearby, if necessary, adding efficiency. It may also allow utilities to get ahead on trimming if they are scheduling proactively.

Using satellite imagery can improve worker safety, particularly in remote areas previously only accessible by helicopter or ATVs. With worker shortages, saving trips to remote areas also allows for better use of personnel and saves on costs.

In addition to lowering employee expenses, relying on digital technology can reduce customer bills and may also save money on restoration costs resulting from outages caused by vegetation.

With costs on the rise and the potential for capital expenses looming as more transmission lines are added to replace aging infrastructure and to handle increased demand, lowering operating costs is a benefit.