Wong: Utility planning studies rarely feed into real-time operations
Josh Wong · Can AI revolutionize grid operations? · Aug 20, 2026 · at 32:43
ThinkLabs CEO Josh Wong discusses organizational silos and handoff gaps between planning and operations departments within electric utilities.
0:00 / 0:13exact quote · 13.5s
720p mp4 · rendered on demand · StarZero watermark
“Of course, each utility might be different, but that is a very, very rare scenario, that they, these study assumptions and results actually feed into operations because they're measured by the different results and KPIs and all that kind of stuff.”
quote is from the automated transcript, cleaned for reading: filler sounds and stutters are removed, nothing is rephrased. names can be misheard (the analysis reads context, assessments check outside sources). how →
More from Josh Wong
Wong: ThinkLabs cuts nine-month grid interconnection studies to under 10 minutes
“So studies that would take previously nine months, right, as I mentioned, interconnection studies, now it takes us only a matter of a couple of minutes, like 10 minutes or less.”
Wong: AI has higher potential upside in grid operations than planning
“I think it is the complete opposite. I think the potential is even higher.”
Wong: The grid has enough latent capacity for most data centers today
“So let me just make a statement here, which is, I believe the grid has enough existing latent capacity to connect the majority, if not all of the data centers today.”
Wong: Transmission interconnection studies take 6-9 months and cost $250K
“I think most utilities are talking about six to nine months to perform one of those studies, and it's a one-time, right, so risk of restudies will compound that, and it does cost internal utility, typically a hundred, A couple of 100,000 dollars. The typical b…”