Power Utilities
Unlock Scalable Utility Inspections with AI-Powered Fault Detection
Harness advanced AI to analyze massive datasets, detect faults with precision, and drive faster, safer decisions across your utility infrastructure.
End-to-end Workflow for Power Utilities Inspections
Manual inspection workflows can’t keep up with the scale of modern utility infrastructure. Optelos leverages advanced computer vision and machine learning to automate fault detection across power lines, substations, and vegetation corridors—dramatically reducing inspection time, cost, and risk. Our AI platform transforms how utilities plan, execute, and act on field inspections.
Job Scheduling and Tracking
Optelos Ops Portal provides 100% , real -time visibility to all projects from start to finish
Drone Data Flight and Capture
Optelos, NRP contractors, or 3rd parties can perform drone flights and uploads data
QA and Data Processing
Optelos ingests data, performs QA and data processing to generate accurate 3D and 2D Models
AI-Powered Analytics
Perform measurements, identify defects, changes over time, etc.
Create Estimates, Reports, and Manage Network
Create custom reports, more accurate estimates, warranty assessment
Differentiated Customer Experience
Direct access to digital twins, orthos, reports, etc.
AI at the Core of Utility Inspections
- Automated Fault Detection
AI models detect common asset defects—damaged insulators, corrosion, missing components—with millimeter-level precision. -
Vegetation Encroachment Monitoring
Optical and thermal imagery processed with AI highlights overgrowth risks and prioritizes trim schedules. -
Anomaly Scoring & Prioritization
Faults are ranked by severity so your team can focus remediation efforts where they matter most. -
Continuous Model Training
Improve detection accuracy over time using our AI-assisted labeling tools—fully integrated into your inspection workflow.
Scalable, Centralized Inspections
Manage Millions of Assets Without Adding Headcount
Optelos enables utility operators to centralize all inspection data—drone imagery, video, sensor data—into a unified system of record. Our AI scans and organizes vast datasets in real time, surfacing high-priority issues for rapid action.
Request a Demo
Why Utilities Choose Optelos
Utility-Tuned AI Models
Pre-trained and customizable AI models for detecting faults in power lines, substations, and vegetation zones.
Precise Geolocation & Mapping
Every defect is tagged with GPS data, enabling immediate dispatch and streamlined remediation.
Seamless System Integration
Connects directly to your existing EAM, ticketing, and GIS systems to eliminate manual data entry.
Secure, Enterprise-Ready Architecture
Cloud-native platform with role-based access, encryption, and full auditability.
Contact us today to schedule a demo or request a quote.
“Since 2019 Optelos has delivered significant improvement to our Transmission Network Inspection processes. The platform was customized to identify specific transmission network conditions and streamline the inspection and remediation process, reducing remediation times by -70% and increasing inspection capacity +300%.”
Sr. Innovation Manager, Latin American Energy Transmission Enterprise
Example Projects
ComEd
Regional utility
United Utility
Utility infrastructure and service provider
Scottish & Southern Electric
Distribution network operator
Grupo Saesa
Transmission and distribution company
ComEd Case Study
ComEd launched the Advanced Image Analytics program in 2022 to build a more effective and proactive maintenance program, better identify defect conditions, and identify the defects more quickly and efficiently. This human + machine approach leverages the latest visual data technologies and AI-powered analytics to create a more resilient and reliable grid. Download this case study to read the steps involved in ComEd’s asset inspection transformation program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Optelos offer for power utility inspections?
Optelos provides an end-to-end inspection workflow that leverages drone imagery, AI-powered analysis, and unified data management to reduce time, cost, and risk across power lines, substations, and vegetation zones.
What’s the inspection workflow like?
- Job Scheduling & Tracking — 100% real-time visibility via the Optelos Ops Portal.
- Drone Data Capture — Conducted by Optelos, NRP contractors, or third parties.
- QA & Processing — Data is ingested, quality-checked, and transformed into accurate 2D and 3D models.
- AI‑Powered Analytics — Helps measure and identify defects and track changes over time.
- Reporting & Management — Generates custom reports, estimates, and insights; integrates with dashboards/digital twins for team collaboration.
What AI capabilities does Optelos bring to utilities?
- Automated Fault Detection — AI models detect issues like damaged insulators, corrosion, and missing components with millimeter-level accuracy.
- Vegetation Encroachment Monitoring — Optical and thermal imagery spot overgrowth risks, enabling prioritized trim scheduling.
- Anomaly Scoring & Prioritization — Faults are automatically ranked by severity to aid faster remediation.
How does Optelos scale inspections for large utility networks?
Optelos centralizes drone, video, and sensor data into a unified system of record—empowering operators to manage millions of assets efficiently. Its AI processes massive datasets in real time and highlights high‑priority issues for swift action.
What integrations does Optelos support?
Optelos integrates seamlessly with existing EAM, ticketing, and GIS systems—eliminating manual workflows and supporting fault-to-action automation.
Is the platform secure and enterprise-friendly?
Yes—built as a cloud-native solution, Optimized for enterprises with role-based access, encryption, auditability, and compliance standards.
What results have utility clients achieved with Optelos?
One utility—processing over 675,000 images across 267 sites—reported:
- 3× increase in inspection capacity using the same workforce
- 70% reduction in remediation times
—enabled by integrated AI fault detection, digital management, and automated ticketing.
Are there strategic partnerships enhancing these capabilities?
Yes—Optelos has partnered with Logic20/20, enabling end-to-end utility inspection automation combining AI-powered imagery analysis, geolocated defect mapping tied to GIS systems, and full integration into utility tech stacks.
What future trends does Optelos address in utility inspections?
According to a recap of Utility Analytics Week 2024, drones and AI are transforming inspections. Optelos supports this shift by consolidating visual data and enabling analytics-driven automation. Future trends include autonomous drones, real-time edge processing, 5G-enabled data streaming, vegetation management automation, and storm-response analytics.
Automate Transmission Line Inspections
Automatically inspect Transmission and Distribution lines over a large geography utilizing autonomous drones and visual AI and machine learning to flag assets requiring technician review, improving team productivity, inspection capacity, accuracy and risk management.
Predictive Asset Management for Utilities
Combine power line drone inspections with AI image analysis to predict asset maintenance requirements. View issues on a map by geolocation. Prioritize T&D sector repairs based upon damage density and severity, improving maintenance crew cost efficiency, productivity and impact.
Utility Vegetation Management
Use power line drone inspection imagery to compare and audit conditions over time to detect and prioritize encroachment issues. Overlay and compare detailed orthomosaics to track progressing issues and predict future mitigation requirements for use in annual wildfire mitigation plans (WMPs)
Prioritize Maintenance Actions Using Vast Amounts of Drone Powerline Inspection Imagery
Optelos systematically aggregates and organizes your unstructured power line drone inspection imagery into an organized and searchable database for visual AI processing and machine learning condition prioritization.
- Automatically assign the highest priority to assets at greatest risk per programmed algorithms to efficiently manage repair resources and avoid failures that lead to outages and wildfires.
- Connect to ticketing and dispatch systems, automatically appending trouble tickets with geolocation data to expedite action to the precise location of the issue while reducing the administrative burden ion operations teams.
Complete Precise Measurements and Analysis of Transmission and Distribution Lines
Drone power line inspection software enables precise measurements and detailed analysis with 1 mm accuracy and .1 degree angle without a site visit.
- Complete pre-project scoping and analysis utilizing hi-res 3D reality models created from UAV power line inspection results.
- Verify current transmission tower configuration, status of supporting infrastructure such as braces, insulators and brackets and monitor vegetation encroachment with drone electrical inspection data.
Predictive Asset Management of Power Grid Assets
Integrated visual AI solution and machine learning offers the ability to manage the huge volumes of visual AI inspection data from drone powerline inspection within the platform.
- Integrated tools for tagging, annotating and labelling of the computer vision AI dataset within the platform to improve visual AI accuracy on recognizing and predicting monitored failure conditions, improving inspection accuracy over time.
- Our drone powerline inspection software includes intuitive dashboards and filters to pinpoint and summarize tower component issues such as broken insulators and missing brackets.
Vegetation Management Reports And Dashboards For Drone Powerline Inspection
Utilizing machine learning, the Optelos platform organizes UAV power line inspection data and other documents into a unified database, enabling the creation of routine reports and status dashboards of key transmission and distribution assets.
- Track the status of mandated inspection audits by site, sector or grid line and highlight areas behind schedule. Use inspection results to prioritize actions in annual wildfire mitigation plans (WMPs).
- Track AI-powered drone electrical inspection results and vegetation encroachment by geography, including the count of outstanding tree trimming work orders, completed maintenance actions and actions pending resolution.
See Ground Level Sub-Station Inspections
Seamlessly integrate Matterport 3D walkthrough visualizations into your drone electrical inspection program to view 360 ground-level walk-thru imagery:
- Remotely inspect and verify ground level space, physical obstructions, security fencing and other important pre-project inspection details without a site visit.