National Grid Launches AI-Powered Wildfire Risk Initiative with Rhizome

Rhea-AI Summary

National Grid (NGG) announced a collaboration with Rhizome to deploy Rhizome's AI platform gridFIRM across National Grid's transmission and distribution networks in Massachusetts, New York, and the United Kingdom to identify and help prevent utility-asset-related wildfires. The platform quantifies long-term wildfire risk, prioritizes high-risk areas, and supports cost-effective prevention and response planning.

National Grid highlighted rising regional wildfire activity (New York and Massachusetts recorded 2,626 wildfires in 2024, more than double the prior year) and noted prior and planned investments in AI: $150 million already invested and a further $100 million commitment by National Grid Partners to AI technologies.

Positive

• Deployment of AI gridFIRM across MA, NY, and UK networks
• $100M new AI investment announced by National Grid Partners
• Existing $150M prior AI investments broaden innovation funding

Negative

• 2,626 wildfires in NY and MA in 2024, >2x prior year (rising operational risk)

Insights

Resilience Strategy Expert

National Grid's deal to deploy Rhizome's AI tool meaningfully increases its operational focus on wildfire prevention and grid resilience.

National Grid will use Rhizome's gridFIRM platform to map and prioritize asset-related wildfire ignition risks across transmission and distribution networks in Massachusetts, New York, and the United Kingdom. The tool converts long-term risk signals into ranked, cost-aware interventions, which aligns with the company's stated goals of preserving reliability while controlling customer costs.

The approach depends on quality of inputs and execution speed; model outputs only help if translated into funded, timely actions such as targeted vegetation management, hardening, or operational changes. Watch implementation milestones and budget allocation, especially following the announced $100 million new AI investment and the prior $150 million venture commitment, for evidence that insights will convert to field work within a 12–24 month horizon.

WALTHAM, Mass. and ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As wildfire risk increases across the Northeast, National Grid is taking action to improve resilience for its customers and communities. Today, the company announced a collaboration with Rhizome, a climate resilience planning platform, to deploy advanced AI technology that identifies and prevents wildfire risks across its electric transmission and distribution networks in Massachusetts, New York, and the United Kingdom.

Rhizome's gridFIRM platform, launched in July 2024, quantifies long-term risks of utility asset-related wildfires. By empowering utilities to mitigate these threats cost-effectively, gridFIRM helps safeguard both reliability and affordability for customers.

"This partnership aligns perfectly with National Grid's strategic approach to risk management, system resilience, and bill affordability. We're committed to ensuring our system is not only efficient and reliable, but safe and resilient for each of the millions of customers depending on us for power," said Casey Kirkpatrick, Director of Strategic Engineering, National Grid. "This groundbreaking new tool will allow us to pinpoint and address risks within our transmission and distribution systems while minimizing costs for customers."

"As we've seen in both the data and the destruction in recent years, wildfire risk is not a regional problem but an increasingly global one," said Mishal Thadani, Co-founder and CEO, Rhizome. "Today's partnership with National Grid is a significant step forward in our mission to shield society from the effects of climate change through intelligent planning. We're proud to assist National Grid with this proactive work."

The implementation of Rhizome's gridFIRM platform across National Grid's service territories will enable the company to:

• Identify high-risk areas where utility assets could potentially ignite wildfires
• Quantify and prioritize wildfire risks across transmission and distribution networks
• Develop cost-effective, multi-value wildfire prevention and response strategies
• Enhance overall grid resilience planning capabilities

Wildfire risk, once considered primarily a West Coast concern in the United States, is increasingly affecting the Northeast. In 2024 alone, New York and Massachusetts experienced a total of 2626 wildfires, more than twice the number of wildfires in the previous year. The health and safety risks, combined with the financial implications of this increasingly geographically diverse trend, make proper resilience planning and preparedness a critical priority for National Grid and all utility stakeholders.

Today's partnership reinforces National Grid's work as a forward-looking industry leader in resilience and preparedness planning for risks to energy users and utilities.

National Grid continues to invest in innovative technologies and data-driven approaches to address evolving challenges. Earlier this year, National Grid Partners, the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid, announced it will invest $100 million in AI technologies and startups advancing the future of energy, building upon the $150 million already invested.

About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future – transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

About Rhizome
Rhizome is an AI-powered software platform that helps utilities identify vulnerabilities from climate threats, quantify risk at high resolutions, and measure the economic and social benefits of grid-enhancing investments. Rhizome provides the highest standard of equitable climate risk mitigation to ensure that communities and businesses are protected against intensifying extreme weather events.

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SOURCE National Grid

FAQ

What did National Grid (NGG) announce on December 2, 2025 about wildfire risk?

National Grid announced a partnership with Rhizome to deploy the AI platform gridFIRM across its MA, NY, and UK networks to identify and prioritize utility-related wildfire risks.

How will Rhizome's gridFIRM affect National Grid (NGG) operations and planning?

gridFIRM will quantify long-term asset-related wildfire risk, pinpoint high-risk areas, and support cost-effective prevention and response strategies for transmission and distribution systems.

Does the National Grid announcement include any new investments in AI (NGG)?

Yes; National Grid Partners said it will invest an additional $100 million in AI technologies, building on $150 million already invested.

Which service territories will use Rhizome's gridFIRM according to National Grid (NGG)?

The platform will be implemented across National Grid's electric transmission and distribution networks in Massachusetts, New York, and the United Kingdom.

How significant is the wildfire trend cited in National Grid's (NGG) announcement?

The release cites 2,626 wildfires across New York and Massachusetts in 2024, described as more than twice the previous year's total, indicating rising regional wildfire risk.