Transforming Grid Planning with SCE’s Digital Twin Platform, SPEED

To meet the demands of a decarbonized, electrified future, utilities must simultaneously modernize aging infrastructure, integrate high penetrations of solar, battery storage, and electric vehicles, and deliver safe, reliable, and affordable power—every hour of every day. Traditional planning tools, built for peak-based analysis, are no longer sufficient. They struggle with high-density time-series data, lack scalability, and fall short in supporting the complex forecasting and scenario modeling required for today’s grid.

In response, Southern California Edison (SCE) developed SPEED (System Planning Evaluation Execution Dashboard)—a first-of-its-kind, cloud-native platform that redefines electric system planning. SPEED leverages digital twin modeling and GPU/CPU acceleration to automate simulations and unlock unprecedented grid visibility. Capable of processing over 1.3 trillion load and DER records in under five hours, SPEED empowers planners to assess constraints, forecast trends, and optimize grid investments with agility and precision.

This session will share SCE’s journey to deploy SPEED, including lessons learned, regulatory drivers, and the measurable benefits already realized. Attendees will gain insights into how SPEED enables hourly, multi-year forecasting at the transformer level, supports scenario-based planning, and accelerates the transition from legacy tools to a unified, future-ready planning environment. The presentation will also preview upcoming capabilities aligned with California’s high-DER proceedings and the state’s 2045 carbon neutrality goals.