Witching Hour
Witchinghour provides line-crawling robots that apply durable insulation to existing power distribution lines while they remain energized, reducing wildfire ignition risk at roughly one-tenth the cost of covered conductor or undergrounding. The solution can be installed in days per mile without new poles or permits, achieving covered-conductor-level risk reduction while keeping customer power on throughout the process.
- Energy
- Robotics
- Hardware
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Founder details are not available yet.
Product
Problem
Current mitigation efforts for power distribution line faults include installing covered conductor and undergrounding power lines, which can cost up to $4,000,000 per mile. These expensive approaches place a significant financial burden on utilities and delay necessary grid hardening, leaving high-risk miles exposed to wildfire ignition from vegetation and wind contact.
Solution
Witchinghour provides a technology that reduces faults in power distribution lines and can be installed while lines are energized, minimizing outage time. The solution lowers the cost of grid mitigation efforts by an order of magnitude compared to traditional methods. By enabling installation without de-energizing lines, the technology reduces service disruptions for customers while still delivering the protective benefits of conventional mitigation approaches.
Target Audience
Electric utilities and grid operators seeking cost-effective solutions for power distribution line fault mitigation and outage reduction, particularly those serving communities in wildfire-prone areas.
Features
- Installed on energized power lines, eliminating the need for de-energization and associated outage time
- Reduces fault occurrence in power distribution lines
- Delivers protection comparable to covered conductor or undergrounding at roughly one-tenth the cost
- Line-crawling robots apply durable insulation to existing conductor without new poles or permits
- Installation completed in days per mile, significantly faster than traditional hardening methods