Smart technology prevents more than 93,000 outages during March severe storms

Ameren Missouri's Smart Energy Plan upgrades prove crucial during devastating weather

On the evening of Friday, March 14, severe thunderstorms left a trail of destruction across Ameren Missouri's service territory. These storms generated multiple confirmed tornados, 75+ mph winds and damaging hail, impacting critical utility infrastructure including substations, distribution and transmission lines and other equipment. A second storm, featuring strong winds, also impacted the company's service territory on March 19.

Following the March 14th storm, Ameren Missouri crews work to restore service in Franklin County.

While thousands of Ameren Missouri team members and others were deployed to help restore service, the company also leveraged the power of smart technology to prevent outages for more than 93,000 customers during the two waves of storms. These efforts and upgrades translated into 28.6 million minutes of outages avoided during the devastating weather. Smart switches, installed on utility poles, played a key role in keeping the lights on for these customers. This technology is designed to instantly detect damage from severe weather, falling tree limbs and other hazards, automatically rerouting and restoring power to customers.

“Smart switches are key to our response during any weather event,” said Ben Lynch, director of distribution operations for Ameren Missouri. “These devices can reduce outages from hours and even days down to minutes or seconds, allowing our crews in the field to focus on restoration efforts.” 

Since the start of the Smart Energy Plan, Ameren Missouri has installed more than 1,750 smart switches and continues to incorporate advanced technology in its efforts to create a more resilient and reliable electrical grid. To learn more about smart switches and other upgrades supporting greater reliability, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.