Case Study: PG&E improves wildfire hazard detection with Gridware's Active Grid Response platform

PG&E Battles High Impedance Faults

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) faced the significant challenge of detecting high impedance faults (HIFs), which are difficult-to-find electrical malfunctions that pose a severe risk of igniting wildfires. These faults do not trigger standard protection systems, creating a dangerous blind spot in PG&E's extensive service territory. To address this, PG&E partnered with vendor Gridware to implement its Active Grid Response (AGR) platform for real-time hazard detection.

The Gridware AGR platform provided real-time, multi-modal sensing to detect these previously undetectable hazards, such as when a fallen tree branch was identified on a power line before it could ignite. This solution was directly integrated into PG&E's outage management system, enabling the utility to dispatch crews to the exact location to mitigate the threat. This enhanced situational awareness drastically reduced response times and patrol durations, directly preventing potential wildfires and improving grid safety and reliability.

PG&E