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How Utilidata enables real-time AI-powered decision making at the grid edge

Former NVIDIA SVP will help accelerate growth

, an NVIDIA-backed edge AI company, announced today the appointment of Gary Hicok as Executive Chair of the board of directors. Hicok, who recently served as an 

 to Utilidata, will transition into his new role on the board to lead alongside the senior leadership team at Utilidata. He will help scale the company’s distributed AI platform and custom NVIDIA module, Karman, for use in energy systems and critical infrastructure, including data centers.

“The rapid growth of AI factories creates a unique opportunity to unlock the value of edge computing, and there is no greater need than in data centers,” 

said Gary Hicok, Utilidata’s Executive Chair of the Board

. “As experts in power flow with a cutting-edge AI platform built on a custom, ultra-compact NVIDIA module, Utilidata is uniquely positioned to unlock up to 50% more compute capacity using existing data center infrastructure. During my time at NVIDIA, I often spearheaded expansion into new markets, and I’m excited to help Utilidata do the same as we tackle some of the most urgent energy challenges.”

As a former executive at NVIDIA for more than 25 years, Hicok has pioneered new technology and growth in edge computing. Hicok was the senior vice president of Automotive and Systems at NVIDIA, where he oversaw the NVIDIA DRIVE platforms used to develop self-driving vehicles. Before that, he served as senior vice president of NVIDIA's core logic business unit and the mobile business unit. His extensive experience will help Utilidata expand into new sectors that can benefit from edge AI, including AI factories.

“Gary Hicok has been an invaluable advisor, and we are thrilled to have him join our team as the Executive Chair of the Board,” 

 “Leveraging Gary’s experience and leadership, we’re excited to expand the impact of our Karman platform – especially in AI factories, where sub-millisecond power flow visibility, control, and guardrails paired with local AI will unlock significant power capacity.

Utilidata's Karman platform is built on a custom version of the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano and can be easily embedded into infrastructure devices to deliver unparalleled visibility and control of power flow. Hubbell Incorporated is the first electric hardware company to 

, creating the industry’s first AI smart meter. Like the electric grid, overprovisioning and lack of visibility and control over inefficient power use create major challenges for data centers. Karman is uniquely positioned to alleviate energy constraints and unlock significant value at the edge in both the grid and data centers.

Utilidata has built one of the smallest edge computing modules, making it easy to embed AI into critical infrastructure devices. With over a decade of experience using AI to optimize power flow on the electric distribution grid, the company’s edge AI platform – Karman, powered by their custom NVIDIA module – has already been embedded into smart meters to bring AI to the grid.

Gary Hicok Joins Utilidata as Executive Chair of the Board

A demonstration project achieved a 27% peak reduction and 12.5% bill savings using distributed AI

 announced the successful completion of a 

 Incubatenergy® Labs (IEL) and Southern California Edison (SCE). The project showed the capabilities of Utilidata’s Karman AI platform in delivering real-time, autonomous management of distributed energy resources (DERs) from the electric meter. Utilidata’s technology proved that local dynamic DER management is possible by enabling real-time operational signals to DERs – overriding static dispatch schedules. This allows DERs to actively respond to real-time system needs rather than pre-scheduled events.

Using wireless communication and on-device AI, Karman calculated optimal DER dispatch and sent control signals directly to DERs – while keeping data local at the source (the meter). This approach will enhance resiliency, reduce data transmission costs, maintain customer privacy, and increase customer benefits. The demonstration project resulted in a 12.5% reduction in electricity cost for a simulated home and a 27% reduction in peak demand.

Utilidata was selected by SCE to demonstrate the Karman platform for load forecasting, solar disaggregation and forecasting, local DER optimization calculations and DER commands. The study was performed using EPRI’s Simulation Platform for Integration of DER (SPIDER) software which generated realistic net load data. “Delivering scalable, real-world solutions for the future grid, such as distributed energy resources, requires deep collaboration between utilities and technology innovators, and EPRI’s Incubatenergy Labs facilitates these partnerships,” said

 Dan Killoren, Head of the Global Innovation Hub for EPRI

. “This project demonstrates that AI could be used to enhance grid operations.”

In addition to accurately identifying multiple DERs in real-time, during the simulation, the Karman platform demonstrated the following advanced capabilities:

With real-time insight into local conditions, Karman enabled accurate forecasting of site load and solar output. In the field, Karman can allow for more dynamic rate schedules. 

Generating and wirelessly sending operational signals to DERs: 

Unlike traditional systems that rely on centralized, static dispatch, Karman autonomously created and sent operational signals to DERs – curtailing solar generation and commanding batteries to charge or discharge – all without sending data to the cloud. This allows DERs to actively respond to real-time system needs, rather than pre-scheduled events.

Achieve peak reduction and cost savings for customers:

 By aligning DER control with time-of-use rates and peak pricing periods, Karman reduced peak load and lowered energy costs for the end user – demonstrating how AI at the grid edge benefits both utilities and consumers.

“This project is the first to show how distributed AI embedded in local grid devices can forecast, manage, and optimize DERs in real time,” said

 Jess Melanson, President & Chief Operating Officer at Utilidata

. ”To realize the full potential of DERs, utilities need the ability to rapidly and dynamically respond to system needs using local computing power.”

Current DERMS and virtual power plant (VPP) systems often rely on pre-determined schedules and lack awareness of local grid constraints. Utilidata’s Karman platform changes that paradigm by embedding AI directly into grid edge devices, creating a responsive, intelligent layer of local control. It enables DERs to act as dynamic participants in the grid – not passive assets awaiting pre-scheduled events.

SCE has become a leader in accelerating the energy transition by pursuing innovative technologies within grid edge computing to address growing energy demand and grid complexities. SCE's recent 

 aims to bring more AI-based solutions to the grid, and its leadership in the industry consortium, the 

Grid Edge Interoperability & Security Alliance (GEISA)

 project, has established important industry collaboration to set specifications for deploying grid edge solutions in the utility industry.

Built on a custom NVIDIA module designed specifically for grid operations, Karman’s distributed AI platform delivers secure over-the-air updates and an open architecture for third-party applications. DERMS and VPP providers can build applications directly on the Karman platform, expanding the ecosystem of intelligent DER management tools.

Founded in 1972, EPRI is the world's preeminent independent, non-profit energy research and development organization, with offices around the world. EPRI's trusted experts collaborate with more than 450 companies in 45 countries, driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe. Together…shaping the future of energy.®

Utilidata is an AI-powered technology company providing utilities with real-time, actionable insights to operate a dynamic and flexible grid. The company’s distributed AI platform, Karman, analyzes large volumes of electricity data in real-time leveraging a combination of on-chip and cloud based software. Powered by a custom NVIDIA module purpose-built for the grid, Karman provides industry-leading computational power to grid devices–starting with meters–enabling faster, smarter decision-making.

Utilidata’s AI Platform Demonstrates Breakthrough in Real-Time DER Management 

Providence, RI – April 29 – Utilidata, a leader in edge AI technology, announced today that it has secured $60.3 million in Series C funding. The round was led by Renown Capital Partners–an investment firm focused on growth-stage technology companies helping to secure an efficient, affordable, and reliable energy system–with participation from Quanta, NVIDIA, and existing investor Keyframe Capital. Citigroup acted as sole placement agent to Utilidata on the transaction. This funding will enable Utilidata to rapidly scale Karman, its distributed AI platform developed in collaboration with NVIDIA over the last four years. Built on a custom NVIDIA module based on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano edge AI platform, Karman can be embedded in any device connected to the energy system.

“With this round of financing, Utilidata is positioned to deliver a major breakthrough in how the world manages power across the entire energy ecosystem,” said

 James McIntyre, Co-Founder, CIO & Managing Partner at Renown Capital.

 “By bringing artificial intelligence to the edge of the grid, Utilidata’s Karman platform will help deliver unprecedented efficiency, resilience, and security to energy infrastructure across the world.”

Rapid growth in data center power demand alone is creating new constraints for grid operators and hyperscalers. By 2030, it is estimated that data center power demand will 

. This growth combined with the global clean energy transition is creating increased complexity on the grid, requiring new and advanced solutions, like edge AI. By enabling high power compute and AI capabilities to be embedded directly into grid infrastructure and data centers, Karman unlocks grid capacity, increases reliability, and reduces carbon emissions.

Utilidata’s Karman platform is now available for purchase directly from Advantech, the global leader in IoT intelligent systems and embedded platform. This will make it easy for any hardware partners to embed Karman into their equipment. 

 is already working with Utilidata to embed Karman into smart meters for electric utilities.

Utilidata’s strategic partnerships are designed to support utilities through every phase of implementing edge AI at scale. The company announced last year a

 first-of-its-kind collaboration with Deloitte

 to support clients in navigating the modern power grid and has now partnered with 

 to support the deployment of AI-enabled infrastructure at scale.

“Quanta’s expertise in electric infrastructure deployment positions us to help Utilidata scale AI across the grid,” said 

Andrew Schwaitzberg, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Quanta Services.

 “We look forward to showcasing the power of edge AI at the Quanta Advanced Training Center, and working with our customers and partners to modernize infrastructure. By enabling AI onto the physical grid, we can continue to support infrastructure that is more reliable and resilient as our customers’ needs grow.”

These investments, which will help scale Karman, come as several megatrends converge, including the rise of data centers and growing power demand. Quanta Services brings deep expertise in deploying power grid infrastructure and will play a critical role in ensuring that grid modernization keeps pace with the growing demands. NVIDIA’s AI innovations will help advance the transformative potential of Karman at the grid edge.

"Electricity has gone from being abundant and predictable to scarce and increasingly unpredictable,” said 

 “That paradigm shift requires fundamentally new technology and deeper industry collaboration. We’re bringing together a powerful coalition of partners who are committed to scaling AI across the grid to build a modern and dynamic energy system.”

“By embedding AI and accelerated computing at the grid’s edge, Utilidata is unlocking critical insights and enabling utilities and industries to make smarter, more informed decisions,” said 

 “These new capabilities, which don’t exist today, will allow the energy industry to do more with existing infrastructure – tapping into valuable capacity on the grid at a time when load is growing rapidly for the first time in decades. 

Utilidata is bringing edge AI to energy infrastructure, starting with smart meters. The company’s distributed AI platform, Karman, is built on a custom NVIDIA module that makes it easy to embed AI capabilities into any grid-connected device.

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