KEPCO deploys AI-powered grid system to cut annual power costs by $73 mil.

The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) is deploying an artificial intelligence (AI)-based power grid management system aimed at reducing annual electricity procurement costs by approximately 110 billion won ($73.4 million), as it seeks to improve efficiency and stability amid rapidly shifting power demand patterns. The state-run utility company said on Wednesday that it has overhauled its grid demand forecasting model using AI and optimized the operation of advanced power facilities, including static synchronous compensators (STATCOM), to enhance overall grid performance. The move comes as electricity consumption patterns in Korea are undergoing structural changes, driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, growing electric vehicle (EV) adoption and rising renewable energy generation. In regions such as the East Coast, where power generation capacity is abundant but transmission infrastructure remains limited, operators have repeatedly been forced to curb electricity output due to grid bottlenecks. To address the issue, KEPCO rebuilt its demand forecasting model using AI-driven big d