Research Catching Silent Threats to the Power Grid Innovative power line sensor spots previously unseen risks to the power grid and monitors new demands from data centers. “Power lines face many undetected threats, from tree limbs momentarily touching the power lines by the action of wind gusts, to aging grid components nearing permanent failure,” said Pablo Paz, CEM research associate and technical lead on the project. The sensors power themselves by inductively drawing a tiny fraction of the current flowing through the power line. A tree branch can be raised and lowered to control its interaction with an energized power line. During testing in fall 2025, the power line sensor detected 34 issues, compared with just three caught by traditional equipment.