Storm Risk Intelligence Improves AusNet’s Outage Response Management

Storm Impact Analytics from DTN delivers advanced outage prediction data and technology to support improved planning and decisioning during weather impacts to power grids.

DTN^®, a global data, analytics and technology company, announced today they were selected by AusNet, one of the largest electricity distribution and transmission providers in Australia, to help improve the organisation’s outage response management. DTN Storm Impact Analytics is a state-of-the-art outage planning and prediction solution that combines hyperlocal weather intelligence, regional and historical weather data, and AusNet operational data with machine learning tools that better equip AusNet to prepare and respond to extreme weather events.

As the climate changes, effective management of weather-related risks is becoming more complex with increasing financial, operational, and regulatory impacts across a variety of industries. AusNet has deployed Storm Impact Analytics configured specifically for utility companies, enabling them to support weather disruption planning and response solutions.

“After two major disaster events, the 2019/2020 bushfires and June 2021 storms, we knew we had to change how we responded to big emergency events in Australia,” said AusNet Emergency Operations Specialist Sally Jacobs.  “We needed reliable and actionable insights which looked at the potential impacts to our service areas, tailored to our industry. DTN Storm Impact Analytics enables us to more confidently anticipate and respond to weather impacts on our network.”

DTN Storm Impact Analytics applies sophisticated machine learning models using a combination of the company’s historical outage and weather data, along with other impact data such as vegetation and geography, and the utility’s specific risk thresholds, to create a tailored weather risk and response based on real-time weather forecasts. Specific to a utility’s infrastructure and distribution network, critical insights are available well before a weather event.

These planning insights inform both advanced warning and scenario modeling that provides incident commanders with the confidence to decide when a response is needed, and if so where to allocate and stage engineers in optimal places, so that they are positioned and equipped to request additional crews, monitor the situation, or resolve a particular issue.

“Utility companies are committed to improving service and seeking solutions that can help them adapt to environmental threats,” said Nic Wilson, DTN Director of Product Management – Weather Risk. “AusNet is furthering their commitment by investing in innovative technology that improves their responses to unplanned outages and restores power as quickly as possible for Victorians.”

Storm Impact Analytics is part of the DTN Storm Risk solutions for energy companies. The outage planning and response platforms and weather intelligence application programming interfaces (APIs) are trusted by thousands of utilities around the world to help anticipate, alert and manage through weather incidents that put extreme pressure on the management of power grids. These solutions are tailored to support utilities of all sizes as they improve emergency preparedness and outage restoration planning. More information on the Storm Risk solution suite can be found here.