Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has launched a technology demonstration project focused on Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) and Asset Health Monitoring (AHM). The initiative brings together advanced sensor systems, real-time analytics, and collaborations with industry partners to improve electric transmission line capacity and monitor equipment health.
According to PG&E, the field installations of hardware and vendor dashboard setups have been completed, marking the start of trial deployments for all technologies involved. This effort is part of PG&E’s broader strategy to upgrade substations and transmission lines, reduce grid congestion, and maintain reliable service during periods of extreme weather.
DLR technology enables utilities to assess the safe carrying capacity of powerlines by analyzing real-time weather data such as temperature and wind speed. Unlike traditional fixed ratings, DLR adjusts these limits as environmental conditions change. This allows for increased electricity flow through existing infrastructure without new construction.
By testing DLR and AHM solutions, PG&E aims to modernize California’s electric grid, increase capacity, enhance reliability, support renewable energy integration, and reduce costs for customers by maximizing current assets instead of building additional infrastructure.
“This project is a critical step in modernizing California’s grid,” said Mike Delaney, Vice President of Utility Partnerships and Innovation at PG&E. “Fundamentally, this project is focused on leveraging new technology to save California’s families and businesses money. If this test is successful, we see a path to unlock millions of dollars per year of cost savings through dynamic line rating and asset health monitoring technologies.”
The company is working with EPRI as the technical advisor for an independent evaluation during an 18-month field demonstration phase. With installations complete across several substations and transmission corridors, PG&E will test whether these technologies can help manage congestion, improve reliability, and prepare the system for increased renewable energy use alongside more frequent extreme weather events.
The project receives funding from PG&E’s electric research budget under the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC), which supports investor-owned utilities in California as they demonstrate new technologies intended to benefit safety, reliability, affordability, environmental sustainability, and equity goals for all state electricity customers.
For further information about PG&E’s innovation projects visit www.pge.com/innovation.
