Evergy investments in grid modernization, predictive maintenance reduces outages

In preparation for sweltering summer temperatures, Evergy, Inc. declared this week that its ongoing investments into power grid modernization, diversification, and predictive maintenance have already reduced both the quantity and scope of outages and will help meet summer demand in the future.

The company serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, where forecasts predict multiple days this week alone at or near 100-degree temperatures. Such high temperatures can strain a grid as air conditioners and other demands weigh on the system. The thousands of mechanical parts involved in the grid can each be affected by such heat, but so far, no public appeals have been made for electricity conservation.

“Our system is reliable. We have had relatively few outages this summer related to the extreme heat, and we are not seeing an increased number of outages,” Chuck Caisley, senior vice president and chief customer officer, said. “We invest hundreds of millions of dollars to update and maintain our electrical grid to ensure reliability into the future.”

One of the main focuses of such investments has been on predictive maintenance. This system can call attention to replacement needs for various equipment before its collapse would otherwise cause an outage. Sensors and special closures allow Evergy to hone in on these bits of equipment and isolate the area of impact, allowing quicker restoration of power overall. While working on these pieces, Evergy typically reroutes power through other lines to restore service, though this at least may not be viable at times when lines are already maxed out by users.

As a company, Evergy has also moved toward a varying supply of power from sources including wind, nuclear, fossil fuels, and solar, meaning the grid need not rely on the supply and capabilities of a single source. This adds to the reliability, and, further, Evergy noted that it performs seasonal maintenance work on its power plants and transmission system during the spring and fall to prepare for the more demanding summer months.

While customers are still encouraged to have plans to save energy and reduce heat at home, the company insisted that its system is ready to meet the needs of the coming days.