Automation, Integration and Virtualization: How Data is Quietly Powering Canada’s Utility Industry
January 21, 2026
By: Don Murray, CEO and co-founder of Safe Software
As the AI revolution accelerates, the demand for data centers and the electricity that powers them is increasing dramatically. In Canada alone, the need for powering data centers is projected to increase by 1.16 gigawatts (roughly the size of a small city) by the end of the decade. For utilities to keep pace with this exponential growth, a powerful data foundation is fundamental, and the infrastructure to efficiently integrate and categorize data from all sources, including AI, is critical.
While data integration rarely takes center stage, behind every utility is a powerful network of data processing that quietly enables timely on-site access, increases project efficiency, and makes increasingly AI-driven data flows possible. Already, utility providers are adapting to changing infrastructure demands, transforming the sector with AI and data integration capabilities that enable quicker, more efficient responses and increased operational confidence. As utilities prepare to be both major enablers and adopters of AI, the way data is automated, integrated, and virtualized remains the necessary foundation for innovation.
Bringing the Digital Twin to the Field
One of the most significant advances in utility operations is the integration of digital twin technology with augmented reality, fundamentally changing how field workers interact with infrastructure. Field utility workers are now leveraging spatial computing to visualize physical infrastructure like pipes, electrical wires, and underground networks in real-time on iOS devices (iPad, iPhone). This technology connects field teams directly to their organization’s entire data ecosystem, all accessible in the field.
Even just a few years ago, field workers had to rely on static, hard-copy manuals and pen and paper to record data during on-site work before manually adding it to a database later. Today, using augmented reality overlays powered by solutions like Safe Software’s FME Realize, workers can visualize digital twins of infrastructure, view real-time sensor data like water pressure and quality, access service records, and update information securely, all in real-time. These updates sync seamlessly with their data platform via the cloud. By bringing enterprise data to the point of work, utilities can identify and resolve issues faster and make more informed decisions.
Transforming Operational Efficiency Through Data Integration
Beyond visualization, data integration is enabling utilities to achieve substantial efficiency gains – crucial advancements that set the stage for future innovation. Disconnected workflows and manual processes limit access to field data and can slow the processing of large data sets and engineering requests, consuming significant resources and increasing the likelihood of errors. To fix this, a utility services company in Ontario leveraged data standardization and integration to standardize records and improve data accessibility, coordinating internet service providers, local distribution companies, and municipalities across the province. By automating their data integration workflows, the company now handles over 90% of their damage prevention processes automatically and saves over 1,000 hours annually. Another Canadian utility company leveraged data automation to fully automate its excavation inquiry process, reducing monthly processing time by over 97%.
These efficiency improvements also extend to legacy modernization, supercharging digitalization, and more strategic data workflows. For instance, a major European electricity distribution company used FME integrated with Google Gemini AI to digitize over two million historical records, completing in 60 hours what would have taken an estimated 19 years manually. By leveraging a combination of data processing and advanced generative AI power, utilities can quickly catalogue and categorize valuable, but unstructured and disorganized, historical datasets into a structured form that is ready for analysis and can be used in planning and operations.
Enhancing Safety and Emergency Response with Real-Time Data
In emergency scenarios where every minute counts, automated data integration also becomes critical for public safety. Not only can data integration streamline operational productivity, but it also provides the data foundation to automate near-real-time emergency data updates in the field, where it matters most. In high-risk settings like wildfire monitoring and prevention, data silos can reduce accessibility to critical information and delay essential decision-making for first responders.
During wildfire season, a combination of real-time data integration, spatial data processing, and data validation allowed a Canadian utility company to automatically process active fire data every 4 hours, which provided near-real-time data on fire activity hotspots and threats to infrastructure. This enhanced visibility enables operations managers and emergency responders to make quick decisions, including proactively deenergizing lines in threatened areas. Simply improving operational visibility can enable utility organizations to transform their emergency response capabilities, protecting communities while minimizing service disruptions.
Preparing for an AI-Powered Future
As utilities evolve to support the proliferation of data centers and AI-driven technologies, a strong data foundation is more than a nice-to-have – it’s essential. The infrastructure to efficiently integrate data from all sources (sensors, operational systems, historical records, and AI-generated insights) creates the backbone for innovation. Strong data integration capabilities make AI applications more effective, while AI-driven workflows optimize data management tasks.
This symbiotic relationship will define the future of the utility sector. For utilities, the path forward requires investment not just in physical infrastructure, but in the data systems that will enable them to leverage new technologies effectively.
Powering Tomorrow’s Grid
At the core of modern utility operations lies data. By effectively addressing critical challenges such as efficiency, safety, and emergency response, data integration tools unlock new possibilities within the industry. Whether through automation that saves thousands of hours annually, AI that modernizes decades of legacy records, or spatial computing that brings digital twins to life in the field, the future will be defined by how utilities leverage data to drive innovation.
The examples above only scratch the surface of what’s possible for the sector when data and AI are applied. As we look ahead, the continued advancement of data management strategies will be essential in preparing utilities for an AI-centric future, ensuring reliable operations and improved outcomes for communities in North America and beyond.
