By Mark England, Director of Digital Solutions, and Phil Dingle, Director of Future Networks at Lucy Electric
The original, full-length article was published by Utility Week.
Over the past twenty years, we’ve seen a dramatic surge in electrification across industry, everyday life, and critical infrastructure. There is now virtually no part of our lives that doesn’t depend on electricity. Whether at home, at work, or in public spaces, the smooth functioning of society increasingly relies on the stability of our electrical networks. But with this reliance comes vulnerability and when parts of the network fail, the consequences can be significant.
Recent outages in Spain, parts of France, on the London Underground and at Heathrow Airport have highlighted the importance of resilience. While each incident had a different root cause, they collectively underscore the value of automation, robust network design, and proactive maintenance. These events offer valuable lessons on how to strengthen both public and private infrastructure to better withstand and recover from faults.
Furthermore, the events in Spain have shown that even when condition data is available, without the right systems in place to prioritise and act on it, the opportunity to prevent faults can be lost. Automation and condition-based maintenance are not just technical upgrades, they are essential tools for turning raw data into timely, preventative action. When deployed effectively, they allow operators to intervene before damage becomes a fault, reducing downtime and protecting critical infrastructure.
While learnings are still being drawn from the events, they made one thing very clear: grid resilience is more critical than ever and with electricity demand expected to double between 2030 and 2050, a resilient network is non-negotiable for economic growth.
Facing up to the challenge
For the industry to move in the right direction, a significant mindset shift is needed. This must be matched by real, tangible change, moving from break-fix to predictive data-driven maintenance. Currently, large parts of our energy network remain blind spots, particularly at the medium voltage and secondary substation levels, as well as across overhead line infrastructure. Without visibility in these critical areas, intermittent faults go undetected until they escalate.
We see it as our role at Lucy Electric to partner with network operators to shine a light on these blind spots. Together we must unlock the value of the data present in grid assets to empower grid operators to monitor networks remotely. In doing so, they can identify weaknesses and repair damage pre-emptively, before faults occur, thereby significantly reducing outages and minutes lost. Capturing, locating, and analysing critical data points across these segments is essential for predictive data-driven maintenance and building true network resilience. Currently, many parts of the network lack the tools to do so, as one network executive recently said: “It’s unacceptable that we only learn about power outages when customers call us.”
However, this shift from break-fix to predictive data-driven maintenance requires investment. But it is the kind of investment that delivers significant returns. Currently, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) operate under a reactive cost model, which is increasingly unsustainable.
To ensure long-term resilience, DNOs must transition to a proactive, outcomes-based model. This means evolving into Distribution System Operators that actively manage supply and demand on the network in real time. Instead of waiting for constraints or faults to arise, they must anticipate future needs using data-driven forecasting, flexibility services, and smart grid technologies. Investment decisions should be guided not only by cost recovery but by system efficiency and consumer value. This transition requires updated regulatory frameworks, robust digital infrastructure, and a cultural shift towards innovation.
Other sectors, such as manufacturing, already use preventative maintenance as standard practice to reduce downtime and costs. The sector must catch up, not just for its own benefit and that of its customers, but to ensure the smooth functioning of society and economic growth.
Offering Solutions
Network operators play a critical role in this transition, and it is on us as suppliers to ensure we equip DNOs with the innovation and tools they need to make it happen. There’s still a long way to go, but the industry is demonstrating better alignment with these customer challenges. As Director of Digital Solutions I consider my role within Lucy Electric as proof of that, heading up our newly formed business unit designed to rise to exactly this challenge.
However this alignment looks for others within the industry, there is a clear need to streamline the delivery of innovative, data-driven solutions, and flexible Software-as-a-Service offerings, to better support the transition to smarter, more connected energy networks. As suppliers we need to lay the groundwork to enable the DSO transition.
In response to growing demand for smarter technologies, suppliers need to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions, enhance existing product ranges, and increase our collective focus on digital offerings.
The time for trials is over, we’re now moving from isolated innovation projects to full-scale digital deployment. With full digitalisation, the industry approaches a point where physical network intervention is only necessary in exceptional circumstances. Data, software, and automation will do the heavy lifting behind the scenes, enabling faster decisions, more efficient operations, and a network that can adapt in real time.
Alongside networks being more resilient, the products we offer to our customers must also last, by being adaptable and continue to add value over time. Shifting to smarter solutions allows prediction and prevention of faults before they occur and also enables continuous improvement without requiring customers to buy the latest hardware. This trend is already well established in other industries. If you bought a car ten years ago, you’re stuck with the capabilities it had at the time, but if you bought one in the last three years, it’s likely the manufacturer can deliver software updates, just like your smartphone or laptop do.
Applying the same principle to switchgear manufacturing will enable us as an industry to better support customers. As DNOs grow their infrastructure and adapt to evolving use cases, our products must evolve alongside them.
Equally, our customers need to switch their mindset to recognise that the industry is moving away from traditional off-the-shelf products and towards more dynamic SaaS solutions. This transition often brings new models such as licensing agreements and ongoing service access, reflecting the need for flexibility, continuous improvement, and long-term support rather than one-off transactions. The path ahead is clear, to build a more resilient, efficient, and intelligent energy network, we must shift our mindset, modernise our tools, and embrace the full potential of digitalisation. It is a significant challenge requiring collaboration across the entire industry, but by unlocking the value of data, investing in smart infrastructure, and fostering a proactive approach, we can move from reacting to faults to preventing them entirely.
At Lucy Electric, we’re proud to be driving this change, empowering our customers to evolve with confidence, and helping shape the energy networks of the future.