Oncor’s electrical system gets smarter every day. That’s because for the last several years, we’ve prioritized the installation of automated devices that help make our system more intelligent, responsive and resilient.

These automated devices are placed strategically across our system to help shorten the duration of power outages and lower the number of customers affected by these outages. In addition, our operations centers use communications technology to monitor these devices around the clock.

Oncor has deployed automated devices across 70 percent of our distribution system with a plan to reach 90 percent.

Devices making a difference

One of the automated devices installed across our system is the Intellirupter. Our operations centers can communicate with these devices, and Intellirupters can also communicate with each other.

For example, in the case of a “fault” – meaning something has disrupted power – the Intellirupter device can communicate with another Intellirupter in the area and reroute power and restore service to customers.

Jeremy Preas, Manager, Distribution SCADA Automation, said Oncor also has deployed thousands of Reclosers on our system. Like an Intellirupter, a Recloser can detect when a fault occurs.

“Since most problems are temporary in nature, like a tree branch falling on a line and causing a fault, the Recloser will then try to restore power after a few seconds,” Preas said.

“Before we had Reclosers, if lightning would strike the line, the power would be out until we could dispatch a lineman to respond,” he said. “Now, whenever you see a storm roll through and your lights blink on and off, that’s the Reclosers doing their job and your lights are usually on after that blinking.”

Oncor has also installed thousands of Electronic Fuses, Preas said. Electronic fuses can detect a problem on an electric line and then try to clear the problem within a few seconds.

Device data helps us plan for future

Oncor’s automated devices are all connected by a robust communications network that uses cellular and radio technology, fiber-optic cable, satellite and microwave. “This allows our control centers to remotely monitor and control these devices,” Preas said. “That’s really the beating heart of our restoration efforts.”

“Before we had this connectivity to these devices, we would solely rely on customers calling in to report a power outage,” he said. “Now, we’re more often able to see when a problem comes up the second that it happens.”

Oncor engineers are also using the from these devices to rapidly troubleshoot issues and even predict potential problems before they happen, Preas said.

“With the data we’re collecting from these devices, we’re able to very accurately determine and predict where that load growth is going to happen,” Preas said. That way, Oncor can plan where it will make future investments in new poles, wires and equipment, he said.

Automated devices also figure into Oncor’s $3 billion System Resiliency Plan (SRP), which was approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas in late 2024.

“With the SRP, we will invest significantly in these automated devices,” Preas said. “They’ve shown to be very valuable in decreasing outage times, increasing safety and minimizing costs.”