How AES is powering safer, more resilient communities
When powerful storms swept through central Indiana in early April, bringing high winds, heavy rains and severe flooding, thousands of homes and businesses lost power. For many, this was the kind of disruption that used to mean days in the dark. But this time, the story was different.
Thanks to years of strategic investment in central Indiana’s electric grid, AES Indiana crews restored power to all 87,000 customers within 72 hours. That quick recovery isn’t luck – AES Indiana’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure is paying off. Years of planning, updating equipment and deploying smart-grid tools make a big difference when severe weather hits.
Customers benefit from our high-tech Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) system, an automated distribution system that immediately detects outages and reroutes impacted customers when possible. During the April 2 major storm event, data shows the system delivered a nearly 30% reduction in outages, meaning without the FLISR technology, an additional 40,000 customers would have lost power. Smart meters, installed for all AES Indiana customers as part of our smart-grid initiative, gave our crews precise information about where service was lost, helping line workers respond faster and more safely. Damage was minimal in areas where we’ve replaced aging lines and cables – another sign that our investments are working.
As weather events increase in both frequency and severity, we know we can’t rely on yesterday’s infrastructure to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Our grid modernization efforts – from upgraded substations to advanced monitoring equipment to replacing millions of feet of underground cable are designed to reduce downtime and damage in future storms and are critical to protecting homes, businesses and the lives of the people we serve.
But infrastructure alone doesn’t restore power; people do. We’re incredibly proud of the response from our frontline teams who worked around the clock in severe weather to bring power back safely and efficiently. Our people live in the same neighborhoods they serve, and they know how important it is to get the lights back on quickly.
A recent photo we shared on social media captured one of our line workers, soaked by rain and battling strong winds, perched on a ladder repairing power lines. This powerful image isn’t an exception; it’s a glimpse into the everyday reality our field crews face during storm events. Their dedication doesn’t pause for the weather; it powers through it.
Beyond storm recovery, our infrastructure investments are laying the groundwork for the future of energy. A modern grid isn’t just more reliable, it’s more flexible and efficient, which ultimately means better service and more savings over time.
While improvements do require investment, we remain committed to keeping utility costs affordable while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. We offer a variety of programs to help customers save energy and lower their monthly bills, including home energy assessments and efficiency kits, rebates and our CoolCents air conditioning management tool.
For financial assistance, customers within certain income guidelines can access our Power of Change grant and the Energy Assistance Program. All customers can take advantage of our budget billing program and flexible extended payment plans.
You’ll see us out and about in the community offering support. Our dedicated customer care team recently hosted three Community Office Hours events at the Julia M. Carson Transit Center, helping more than 600 customers tackle billing concerns and answering questions in real time. We look forward to holding more of these opportunities in the future.
The April 2 storm reminded us that the weather can change in a moment, but it also proved that preparation matters. When we invest in infrastructure, we’re not just upgrading hardware – we’re protecting families, supporting local businesses and building a more resilient future for our communities.
At AES Indiana, our mission is simple: to keep the power on and to be there when it matters most. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and are committed to accelerating the future of energy, together.
Brandi Davis-Handy is the president of AES Indiana.
