Santee Cooper Teams Up with Google on AI-Driven Forecasting

The state-owned utility Santee Cooper is partnering with Google to modernize its financial planning and load forecasting using artificial intelligence tools. According to CFO Tami Wilson, the utility plans to use AI-driven weather forecasts from WeatherNext 2 to improve its load forecasting, which could save it millions of dollars a year.

The utility will also deploy Google's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform to speed up financial forecasting and enable rapid scenario-based planning for major projects, including Santee Cooper's $10 billion grid-expansion budget. Wilson noted that the utility is undergoing a 'major digital transformation' by shifting away from legacy processes and automating routine tasks without compromising accountability or risk management.

Santee Cooper will use generative AI for initial drafting and agentic AI to execute multi-step processes autonomously. The utility has not disclosed the cost of the new tools, but Wilson emphasized that proper training is being provided for employees handling confidential data.