Research

Resilient by Design Utility Series: Vermont Electric Cooperative

Vermont Electric Cooperative’s (VEC) resilience strategy focuses on vegetation management, maintenance planning, and system protection.
Data-driven outage tracking and drone-assisted monitoring strengthen grid visibility and restoration speed.
Equity is embedded throughout VEC’s planning and investment decisions as a member-owned cooperative.
Strategic investments have cut customer outage hours by up to 90% in FEMA-supported projects.

This case study examines how Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) integrates resilience into utility planning and operations. Drawing on VEC’s Reliability and Resiliency Plan, the study highlights how the cooperative is using innovative technologies, targeted maintenance, and equity-focused engagement to strengthen reliability across northern Vermont.

Building on SEPA’s Resilient by Design: Utility Strategies for Climate-Ready Distribution Systems report, this case study explores VEC’s approach to building a resilient grid in a rural, forested service territory. Facing increased storm frequency and climate-related challenges, VEC combines advanced outage management tools, data analytics, and vegetation management to enhance system performance. As a member-owned cooperative, VEC centers equity and affordability in every decision, demonstrating how smaller utilities can lead with community-focused resilience planning and transparent performance tracking.