Overstory and Fulcrum Partner for Risk Reduction in Utility Sector

Overstory, a risk intelligence platform for utilities, and Fulcrum, a field operations management software, have partnered to offer utility companies a closed-loop risk reduction solution. This integration connects risk-based planning with verified field work, allowing utilities to demonstrate and quantify the value of their investments in mitigating risks like vegetation-related outages and wildfires.

The new system links Overstory's risk prioritization models with Fulcrum's data on work dispatch, inspection, and completion. This creates a workflow where both planned mitigation actions and on-the-ground execution are tracked and connected. The partnership aims to address the growing need for utilities to provide regulators and communities with concrete evidence of risk reduction achieved through their efforts.

Vegetation management and aging infrastructure are significant drivers of power outages and wildfire risk in North America. Utilities spend an estimated $8 billion annually on vegetation management alone, and recent wildfire litigation has highlighted the necessity of proving the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. While many utilities can document the work performed by their crews, they often struggle to quantify the risk that work eliminated.

With this integration, utilities can identify high-risk areas using Overstory's platform, prioritize them, and determine necessary mitigation steps. Fulcrum then manages the field execution, documenting crew work and conditions before and after interventions. This data feeds back into Overstory, updating the risk landscape and informing future actions. The integration is available to existing customers of both companies.