Chelan PUD outlines growing role of AI, cloud systems

WENATCHEE — When the lights go out, Chelan County PUD crews roll trucks and repair lines. Increasingly, another response is happening at the same time. It’s one that takes place inside computer systems that monitor the grid, analyze outages and defend the utility’s infrastructure from cyber threats.

Commissioners heard an update March 2 on that digital side of the utility’s operations during a study session presentation by Jeff DiGenova, director of IT and cybersecurity, who outlined the district’s growing use of cloud systems, cybersecurity monitoring and artificial intelligence tools.

DiGenova said the district’s technology systems now support nearly every part of its operations, from hydropower generation to customer billing and grid management.

“We are increasingly a technology company,” DiGenova told commissioners.

That description echoes a broader shift inside the utility that has been underway for several years. In earlier reporting, Chelan PUD Chief Technology Officer Ian Fitzgerald described the organization in similar terms.

“We’re really a technology company that delivers essential services,” Fitzgerald said in a January interview. “Everything we do now is driven by data, systems, and automation. The physical assets are still there, but how we operate them has changed completely.”

Much of that transformation is invisible to customers but central to how the modern utility operates. Systems that track grid conditions, manage customer information and analyze operational data increasingly work together in real time to support power delivery and outage response.

DiGenova said protecting those systems has become a critical part of the district’s work.

Cybersecurity programs monitor network activity, identify vulnerabilities and respond to potential threats as utilities become more dependent on digital controls and connected infrastructure.

The district is also expanding its use of cloud computing systems.

“We’re moving more and more into the cloud,” DiGenova said.

Cloud platforms allow the utility to scale computing resources more easily while maintaining security protections and backup capabilities.

Commissioners also asked about the potential role of artificial intelligence in the organization.

DiGenova said AI tools are already helping employees analyze large data sets and automate certain routine tasks.

“At the end of the day, AI is really about productivity,” he said.

While emerging technologies sometimes raise concerns about job losses, DiGenova said the district’s goal is to support employees rather than replace them.

“Our goal is not to replace people,” he told commissioners. “It’s to make them more effective.”

Chelan PUD operates one of the largest public hydropower systems in the Pacific Northwest, along with fiber internet service and extensive electrical infrastructure across Chelan County.

As those systems become more complex and interconnected, DiGenova said the technology supporting them has become just as essential as the dams, substations and power lines customers see.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media