More than 90% of US power outages start on the distribution grid – the part closest to homes that utilities can’t always see in real time – but Sense says it’s trying to change that by pushing fault detection directly into smart meters.
The grid‑edge intelligence company has rolled out a new software-based Fault Detection Solution that runs on next-generation meters, giving utilities real-time visibility into problems on distribution, service, and secondary lines feeding individual homes.
That matters because most fault-detection technologies still focus higher up in the system, such as transmission lines or substations, where monitoring has traditionally been easier and more centralized, leaving utilities with thinner visibility on the neighborhood-level infrastructure closest to customers.
Sense’s system uses its Waveform AI technology to analyze electrical signals at the meter in real time. That allows utilities to detect arcing, downed lines, and early signs of equipment failure as they occur – issues that can spark wildfires, injure lineworkers, or prolong outages.
Rather than adding new hardware, Sense’s software is designed for AMI 2.0 smart meters and runs directly on devices that utilities are already deploying. The idea is to get faster fault detection without the cost and complexity of pole-mounted sensors or radio-based localization systems.
For utilities, that could mean quicker fault localization, fewer truck rolls, shorter outages, and better data on which assets actually need replacement. Early detection of arcing events could also improve safety for lineworkers, since those faults can be deadly when encountered in the field.
Sense says the technology has already shown results in utility pilot projects, where it identified early-stage faults tied to vegetation growth and revealed infrastructure issues that had previously gone unnoticed.
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