From Data Overload to Smart Insights: The Future of Monitoring | Mark Tostrud, Dynamic Ratings

From Data Overload to Smart Insights: The Future of Monitoring | Mark Tostrud, Dynamic Ratings

🎙 Mark Tostrud, Dynamic Ratings 👥 556 📅 December 1, 2025 ⏱ 16 min 👁 78 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

online monitoringbushing monitoringcondition-based maintenancetransformersmart grid

Summary

In this interview at CIGRE 2025, Mark Tostrud, Global Product Manager and Technology Officer at Dynamic Ratings, discusses the evolution of online monitoring in the power industry. He shares his background from We Energies, emphasizing hands-on experience. Tostrud highlights Dynamic Ratings’ new products: Connect Grid for distribution monitoring and next-generation bushing monitoring using a voltage reference method for real-time power factor and capacitance measurement. He also mentions iBridge, which uses broadband over power line to transmit signals over existing copper wires. The conversation covers the challenges of data overload and the shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance. Tostrud stresses the importance of clean data for AI analysis and notes that online monitoring enhances, not replaces, engineers. He draws an analogy to Apple Watch for health monitoring, suggesting a similar approach for substation assets. The interview concludes with reflections on CIGRE 2025 and the need for utilities to embrace online monitoring for grid reliability.

153 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable insights into the practical applications of online monitoring technologies, particularly the shift from periodic testing to real-time monitoring. Tostrud’s argumentation is grounded in his utility experience, making the case for condition-based maintenance compelling. He effectively explains the benefits of new products like the voltage reference method for bushing monitoring and the use of broadband over power line for data transmission. However, the discussion is largely qualitative, with limited technical depth or quantitative evidence. The argumentation is persuasive but relies on anecdotal success stories rather than rigorous data.

100 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on the future of monitoring and data utilization.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The video features an expert with extensive hands-on utility experience, providing credible insights into online monitoring technologies. However, it is largely promotional, lacking detailed technical data or independent verification.

Chapters

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

  • Dynamic Ratings Official Website — Company website providing product details and technical information.

Contribution & Novelties

The video offers a practitioner’s perspective on the transition to online monitoring, highlighting specific innovations like the voltage reference method and iBridge. It underscores the importance of data quality for AI applications. The discussion is timely given the industry’s focus on grid reliability and asset management.

Pour aller plus loin :

83 words

Radar Profile

The profile shows balanced scores across information quantity, quality, technical level, and reliability, indicating a moderately informative and credible expert discussion, though not highly technical or deeply sourced.

Reliability 7/10