BVES partners with startup to insulate power lines using robots, at less than half the cost of traditional methods

Bear Valley Electric Service has struck a partnership with wildfire-prevention startup Witching Hour to deploy compact, autonomous robots that wrap existing bare power lines in insulation — a process the utility says costs less than half what traditional wire-hardening methods run, and requires no outages to complete. The one-circuit-mile pilot is underway in a residential area of Sugarloaf.^[1]

How it works — and why it's cheaper

Converting bare wire to covered conductor has long been one of the most expensive items on any mountain utility's wildfire checklist. Traditional methods cost roughly $1 million per circuit mile and historically required crews to replace not just the wire but the poles underneath it. With Witching Hour's robots, that per-mile investment drops to less than half — and existing infrastructure stays in place.^[1] The lightweight robots climb and operate autonomously on energized lines, so BVES does not have to schedule outages while the work is done.^[1] The installed insulation is rated to last approximately 30–40 years and, like traditional covered conductor, prevents electrical sparking when tree branches or other objects make contact with the wire.^[1]

A first for the technology

The Sugarloaf project is Witching Hour's very first commercial deployment — meaning BVES is betting on an unproven technology at scale.^[1] BVES President Paul Marconi framed the move in terms of both safety and fiscal responsibility: "There is nothing more important to us at BVES than keeping this Valley safe. At the same time, we are mindful that our customers rely on us to steward our resources efficiently. Witching Hour's technology could allow us to harden the grid faster and cheaper, and we consider that a win for the entire community."^[1] Witching Hour founder Lance Adler added, "BVES is showing that grid hardening doesn't have to be slow or expensive."^[1]

The partnership is the latest in a line of technology-forward moves by the utility. In August 2026, BVES deployed a drone fleet to survey electrical lines for damage, vegetation encroachment, and other hazards.^[1]

A few questions remain unanswered in the announcement: whether Sugarloaf residents were consulted before their neighborhood was chosen as the pilot site; whether the 30–40-year lifespan and cost estimates have been validated by independent engineers; and whether projected savings will translate into lower customer bills or simply allow BVES to harden more miles of line within its existing budget. Residents with questions can contact BVES at (800) 808-2837 or visit bvesinc.com.