PG&E Revolutionizing Utility Training with AR and VR & the Future Urban Substations in San Francisco

Bringing an experienced journeyman electrician up to speed on utility-specific substation methods takes about a year at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). In this episode of the Grid Knowledge podcast, host Ben Lanz talks with Shawn Adderly, Director of Substation Operations for the San Francisco Bay Area at PG&E, about how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) could shorten that path.

The conversation goes beyond training. Adderly explains why San Francisco’s multilevel, indoor substations are hard to expand, why SF6-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) changes the footprint equation, and why a skilled workforce is a competitive advantage as data centers and electrification drive speed to power.

The episode is sponsored by Dynamic Ratings.

How Is PG&E Using AR and VR for Substation Training?

PG&E is piloting VR so trainees can walk through a substation from home before field visits. It is also piloting AR glasses so field staff can open manuals by voice and get live help from specialists. Adderly says the pilots are small because of safety-rated eyewear, custom models of legacy equipment and unproven vendor claims. Urban substations add a second challenge: fitting compact, non-SF6 GIS into multilevel buildings.

What You Will Learn

• How VR and AR split the work in utility training
• How PG&E builds virtual substations from 360 imaging and CAD
• Why AR/VR pilots stay small at large utilities
• Why urban substations are designed differently
• How non-SF6 GIS affects size and cost
• How to start a career in the utility industry

Who Is Shawn Adderly?

Adderly directs substation operations across the Bay Area and the rest of PG&E’s service territory. He focuses on work methods, training, new equipment and large outage events. He studied electrical engineering, worked in the chip industry at IBM, and joined PG&E in data science after finishing a master’s degree in statistics. At the time of the interview he had spent 11 years at PG&E, across gas operations, risk, energy policy and procurement, wildfire operations, distribution programs and transmission substations.

How Does PG&E Use AR and VR for Substation Training?

PG&E splits the work by tool. VR handles initial training. AR supports workers on the job.

VR for Pre-Work From Home

Trainees can walk through a virtual substation, view the inside of a control room and rehearse a station reading or a mechanical service. Doing this at home replaces multiple field visits. Trainees then arrive in the classroom prepared, and the classroom reinforces what matters before hands-on field training.

AR for Ongoing Field Support

Once trained, a worker wearing AR glasses can call a more experienced colleague in the office to verify a condition. Instead of thick paper manuals, the worker can use a voice cue such as “give me the maintenance section for timing of breakers” and scroll through it. Specialists can see what the worker sees and help troubleshoot.

Adderly’s goal is to speed up training and make it more “democratized,” so an instructor does not need to be with every trainee at every moment. He frames this as catering to a digitally native workforce.

How Are Virtual Substation Training Models Built?

PG&E has used two main routes with different vendors:

• 360 imaging: captures real station spaces so trainees can walk through them in VR.
• CAD-based models: let users open cabinets and read gauges inside a simulated station.

Some manufacturers also provide rough CAD drawings and equipment breakdowns, which can be added to the model. Adderly calls this especially useful for new equipment.

Why Are AR and VR Pilots Still Small at Large Utilities?

PG&E is “at the beginning stages,” according to Adderly, and is piloting with a small group. He expects the whole industry is early in this area. He points to several obstacles.

Safety-Rated Eyewear

Substation work is industrial and often outdoors near high voltage. AR glasses must meet the same safety glass quality as standard protective eyewear. A vendor pitching VR headsets for outdoor use was turned down because the devices were not rated for outdoor wear around high voltage.

Custom Models for Utility-Owned Equipment

Training must cover PG&E’s own equipment, some of which may no longer be on the market. That requires custom models rather than generic content.

Vendors Who Want to “Co-Build”

Adderly translates “we want to co-build with you” as “we have never built anything in this space before for a utility of this scale.” Being first means heavy development time and potential sunk cost, but success could help the wider industry.

Why Are Urban Substations Like San Francisco’s Different?

Adderly says urban stations are designed very differently from the open-air substations seen beside highways. In San Francisco, New York City and Chicago, substations are often partially underground, inside buildings or multiple stories tall. Several San Francisco stations are multilevel, like buildings.

The constraint is the design envelope. Engineers must fit new equipment and new capacity into spaces defined 50 or more years ago, while also clearing equipment for maintenance. Indoor switchgear dimensions and indoor system requirements matter more as urban density increases.

What Is Happening With GIS and SF6 Alternatives?

Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) remains the main option for very compact footprints at higher voltages. The industry is moving away from sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent greenhouse gas, driven by California and by stringent European rules.

Adderly says PG&E is looking at the next generation of GIS that uses non-greenhouse-gas alternatives. One manufacturer markets a “blue” GIS; Adderly did not name the company in the interview. He made two practical points:

• The cross section of the new units is a little bigger than SF6 GIS, so space constraints shift slightly.
• GIS is expensive, so it must be used judiciously. Switchgear at 12 kV has also become more compact.

His strategy is to look at transmission capacity into the city, which avoids needing GIS at every voltage level above 12 kV. The host said he had heard newer gases have weaker dielectric properties and planned to research the size claim. Treat the size observation as Adderly’s operational experience, not a manufacturer specification.

How Can You Start a Career in the Utility Industry?

Adderly recommends starting with transferable skills. Mechanics, equipment operators and people with trenching or heavy equipment experience can find parallels in gas and electric work. He also suggests:

• Looking for technical training programs, since many utilities partner with universities and community colleges.
• Staying curious about the path “from generation all the way to your house.”
• Using open-source educational resources and utility outreach programs.

Utilities struggle to find a skilled workforce willing to climb 90 feet or enter underground vaults. Adderly says agile, adventurous people are a good fit. His own path started when a recruiter messaged him on LinkedIn, and his passion for energy grew from watching Florida Power & Light restore power after hurricanes.

Why Does Training a Skilled Workforce Pay Off?

Adderly’s closing message is not to underestimate the upfront investment in training. His reasons:

• Fewer safety incidents.
• Happier customers, because engineers can answer design and connection questions with certainty rather than “we’ll get back to you in three weeks.”
• Faster response in a market where speed to power for data centers and new developments is a priority.

Conclusion

PG&E’s AR and VR work is early but practical. VR prepares trainees before they reach a substation, and AR keeps experts close once they are in the field. The same pragmatism applies to urban grids: space is fixed, SF6 alternatives are changing footprints, and cost forces targeted GIS use. Adderly’s through-line is that people are the biggest constraint, so training is not a side project.

Tune in for valuable insights from key stakeholders and thought leaders in the field, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

Subscribe to the Grid Knowledge podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/apcmedia