Exelon’s climate arm backs grid-planning firm Continuum

Exelon, one of the largest utility companies in the country, has made an investment in Continuum Industries, a company that uses artificial intelligence to help plan power grid infrastructure. The investment came through Exelon's climate investment fund, which typically puts in $100,000 to $300,000 to help startups working on climate-related technology grow. Continuum's software, called Optioneer, helps utilities plan where to build transmission lines and other grid infrastructure by analyzing environmental risk, land impact, and permitting hurdles ahead of time.

As part of the deal, Exelon plans to deploy Continuum's platform across its family of utility companies, which serve customers in the PJM grid region covering five states and Washington, D.C. The idea is to make grid planning faster and cheaper as demand for electricity grows, partly from things like electric vehicles and data centers.

For homeowners, this is not a program you can apply to or a rebate you can claim. It is a behind-the-scenes technology deal aimed at helping utilities plan and build power lines more efficiently. Over time, faster and lower-cost grid planning could help keep electricity delivery costs down in the areas Exelon serves, but this news does not change anything about your utility bill, your home's wiring, or any upgrade programs available to you right now.