What You Missed: 5 Key Takeaways from the Critical Connections Event

If you work in utilities, electrical reliability isn’t just a goal—it’s a daily battle. At the Critical Connections virtual event, IRISS SMEs discussed some of the biggest challenges facing utilities today: aging infrastructure, rising demand, and the urgent need for safer, smarter maintenance strategies.

Couldn’t make it? No problem. Here are the five biggest takeaways from the event.

1. Thermochromic Technology is Changing the Game

Byron Matos kicked off the session with a deep dive into thermochromic overtemperature indicators, a simple yet powerful way to detect overheating before failures occur. These visual indicators, part of IRISS Safe-Connect, change color when a component reaches a dangerous temperature, allowing operators to spot and address potential issues before they escalate.

Why does this matter? Loose electrical connections can cause up to 20% energy loss in motors and cost billions in wasted maintenance and downtime. Thermochromic solutions offer an easy, passive way to detect these risks without expensive monitoring systems.

2. The Future of Grid Maintenance is Resilience, Not Just Repairs

IRISS CEO Martin Robinson zoomed out to discuss modernizing grid maintenance in the face of labor shortages, regulatory pressures, and the rise of automation. He pointed out that many IoT-driven condition monitoring programs fail due to poor data management and resistance to change.

Instead of relying on outdated time-based maintenance schedules, utilities need to adopt precision maintenance, focusing only on issues that truly require intervention. As Martin put it, “Do you want to be Netflix or Blockbuster?”—a reminder that clinging to old methods will only lead to obsolescence.

3. IR Windows are Making Electrical Inspections Safer and Faster

Michael Hinojosa introduced the latest advancements in IRISS CAP Series infrared windows, which allow maintenance teams to inspect electrical components without opening live panels. This drastically reduces arc flash risk, eliminates unnecessary downtime, and ensures compliance with NFPA 70B and 70E standards.

The key takeaway? Traditional open-panel infrared inspections are not only slow but extremely dangerous, exposing workers to potential arc flashes reaching 20,000°F. IR windows provide a safer, cost-effective alternative, cutting inspection time from one hour to 5 minutes while keeping systems enclosed and guarded.

4. The Shrinking Workforce is Driving Smarter Inspections

One of the biggest concerns across the industry is the aging workforce—with 12,000 skilled workers retiring daily in North America alone. The skills gap is growing, and utilities need ways to automate routine inspections without sacrificing reliability.

Enter Operations Driven Safety and Reliability (ODSR), a framework that empowers operators—not just maintenance teams—to spot potential issues early. Technologies like thermochromic indicators and IR windows make this easier by simplifying data collection, allowing lower-skilled workers to detect problems without advanced training.

5. Sustainability and Reliability Go Hand-in-Hand

Utilities are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, and outdated maintenance practices aren’t helping. Unnecessary shutdowns, excessive part replacements, and inefficient inspections all contribute to energy waste.

The solution? Smarter, data-driven maintenance strategies that eliminate guesswork. Whether it’s thermochromic indicators preventing energy loss or IR windows reducing the need for unnecessary maintenance shutdowns, every improvement in reliability translates to cost savings and a lower environmental impact.

Want a Deeper Dive?

If you missed the event, you can still catch the full recording and access exclusive resources in the Virtual Experience Center. There, you’ll find:

• Real-world case study on improving reliability at a Florida utility
• Whitepaper on faster, safer maintenance strategies
• NFPA 70B Compliance Checker to assess your facility’s status
• Interactive cost calculators to see how much you can save

Stay informed, stay prepared, and keep your utility running smoothly. See you at the next event!