Hybrid Utility Inspections

Hybrid utility inspections are transforming how electric utilities manage regulatory asset inspections by combining experienced field professionals with AI-powered analysis. ThreeV and Reliability Transformation Solutions (RTS) have launched a managed inspection service that pairs Certified Journeyman Linemen with an inspection platform that captures structured asset data while training AI models in the background. As inspections are completed, the system builds utility-specific datasets that allow future inspection cycles to be increasingly automated while retaining expert oversight for quality assurance and complex decision-making.

For utilities, this approach reduces the cost and complexity of adopting AI by integrating model development into existing inspection workflows instead of requiring separate pilot programs. The combination of human expertise, digital inspection records, and AI-assisted analysis can improve regulatory compliance, preserve institutional knowledge as experienced workers retire, and accelerate the modernization of grid maintenance programs while supporting more efficient long-term infrastructure management.

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