Data-Driven Resilience: How Award-Winning Utilities are Redefining Restoration
Utilities are transforming outage operations through mobile tools, real-time dashboards, advanced analytics, and predictive models that improve situational awareness, resource coordination, and risk mitigation. This panel brings together winners of Chartwell’s Outage Operations Best Practices Awards to share how leading utilities are modernizing restoration. Panelists will discuss innovations such as mobile outage dispatch, enterprise storm resource and logistics platforms, machine learning-enabled crew management, and wildfire risk modeling. These capabilities are helping utilities accelerate crew deployment, improve estimated times of restoration, reduce public safety power shutoffs, and deliver more timely and accurate information to customers. Attendees will gain practical insights into the technologies, governance models, and organizational changes driving more agile and resilient outage operations.
Panelists:
- Matthew Wiltrout , Lead Engineering Supervisor of Network Strategy, National Grid
Matthew Wiltrout is Lead Engineering Supervisor of Network Strategy at National Grid, where he leads engineering initiatives that support long-term electric distribution planning and grid modernization. With nearly two decades of experience in the utility industry, he has held leadership roles in network strategy, project management, and distribution engineering, helping to develop reliable, resilient electric infrastructure. Before joining National Grid, Matthew managed complex utility projects at TRC Companies, where he specialized in distribution systems analysis and project delivery. He holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University, graduating with a 4.0 GPA, as well as bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics from SUNY Geneseo. His expertise spans utility operations, engineering strategy, and electric distribution system planning.
- Nathan Sherman, Engineer, Power Delivery Technology, Alabama Power Company
Nathan leads the development and support of storm-critical systems, including applications used for damage assessment and resource management. With over 15 years at Southern Company, Nathan brings extensive experience in storm operations, field support, and technology implementation. He has led enterprise deployments, large-scale training initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration across Distribution, Transmission, and Storm Center Operations.
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