Overstory, the leading grid resilience platform trusted by 6 of the 10 largest utilities in North America, today announced the industry's first AI models that predict where outages and utility-caused wildfires are most likely to start. The new Ignition and Outage Models mark a shift from paper maps and subjective data to predictive scenario planning, giving operators a prioritized view of the exact work that will prevent the most harm per dollar spent.

As we look forward to 2026, there’s a bright spot: utilities investing heavily in technology that keeps communities safe.

Overstory, the leader in vegetation intelligence for the utility industry, today announced $43M in Series B funding. The round was led by Blume Equity, with participation from Energy Impact Partners LP (“EIP”) and existing investors including B Capital, Semapa Next, Pale Blue Dot, CapitalT, Convective Capital, Bentley Systems, MCJ and Moxxie Ventures.

For regulators and utilities alike, the question is no longer whether to invest in wildfire mitigation, but how to do so in a manner that effectively reduces risk with minimal ratepayer impacts.

This year, electric utilities in New Zealand are preparing for regulatory updates that will expand their ability to manage trees planted by customers or growing outside their direct rights of way. The changes are a win for risk-based vegetation management, but they raise new questions about how to manage expanded zones effectively and safeguard infrastructure reliability.

The decision to move forward with a tech solution to operational challenges raises a familiar question. Do you build the tech in-house or buy from a partner? This piece offers a framework to help clarify that decision: what to build, what to buy, and how to make the best choice for your team.

At Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) annual meeting, the Overstory team joined utility leaders and industry experts to discuss how utilities can practically improve grid resilience. The atmosphere was collaborative and forward-looking, focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence on reliability, cybersecurity, wildfire prevention, and operations.

Starting June 15, Overstory is partnering with Watch Duty to combine real-time vegetation risk data with live wildfire alerts. This partnership will provide utilities and first responders with actionable insights to proactively manage wildfire threats, mitigate risks and protect communities.