Ep 89: How are utilities going to keep the lights on in an AI world?

In this episode, Alfonso de la Cruz sits down with Ozge Russell, Senior Analyst at Omdia's Smart Building and Energy team, fresh from DistribuTech 2026 in San Diego. Together, they unpack why utilities are facing their most significant transformation since electrification began, and how grid edge intelligence is becoming the frontline defense against complexity, outages, and skyrocketing demand.Highlights include:90% of US grid outages originate at the distribution edge, yet utilities historically had the least visibility thereUS energy consumption projected to surge 50% in 20 years after two decades of near-zero growth, driven by AI data centers and electrificationUtilities are rebuilding network topology maps using AI because they don't know which homes connect to which transformersGrid edge intelligence enables autonomous, real-time fault detection, protecting expensive equipment and preventing cascading failuresAffordability is now a top-4 priority alongside reliability, resiliency, and flexibility, requiring utilities to collaborate with customers, not just serve themTop Takeaway:The grid edge is where 90% of outages happen, and where utilities had the least visibility. Edge-native intelligence isn't a nice-to-have; it's the only way to manage bidirectional power flows, protect aging infrastructure, and prevent economic disruption as electrification accelerates. Get Involved:Have questions or want to join the podcast? Email us at critcommscircle@omdia.com