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Electric Companies Prepare Year-Round to Strengthen Grid for Severe Weather

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Industry experts on the frontlines of emergency response share how they serve customers in their communities — watch the new video

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As hurricane season begins and wildfire risks increase across the country, America’s electric companies are preparing to respond to extreme weather events that can cause power outages.

 

“We know extreme weather will continue to impact communities across the country—the question is not if, but when,” said Jennifer DeCesaro, senior vice president of industry operations at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). “Electric companies prepare year-round—investing in stronger infrastructure, deploying new technologies, and coordinating across the industry to enable a rapid, safe response when severe weather strikes.”

New video: Hear directly from experts on the frontlines of emergency response across the country about how they prepare for and respond to hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events. The video features leaders from ComEd, Entergy, Georgia Power, Hawaiian Electric, and National Grid.

Investing in a More Resilient Grid

The grid has remained strong and stable over time, with most power outages—about 80 percent— caused by severe weather, according to a new analysis from Concentric Energy Advisors (CEA). The electric power industry is focused on reducing those impacts and restoring power safely and as quickly as possible when storms occur.

EEI’s member companies are investing at historic levels—nearly $1.4 trillion over the next five years—to strengthen the grid and make it more resilient to extreme weather. According to the report, roughly 21–33 percent of transmission and distribution investment is specifically directed toward resilience and hardening. That includes burying outage-prone power lines, replacing wooden poles with stronger steel and concrete structures, elevating substations against flooding, and trimming trees near power lines to prevent storm-related outages.

Data-Driven Response Efforts

Data, technology, and advanced forecasting tools are transforming how electric companies prepare for and respond to severe weather. Days before a storm, electric companies use damage prediction models and weather analytics to pinpoint likely impacts and determine where to position crews, equipment, and materials.

“With the smart technology, we’re able to make decisions quickly,” said Drew Thompson, program manager of workforce strategies at Entergy.

Electric companies are deploying sensors, real-time monitoring platforms, and grid-enhancing technologies that provide continuous visibility into system conditions and support more informed decision-making during extreme weather events.

Across the industry, companies are also leveraging drones equipped with AI-powered cameras, automated diagnostic tools, and smart grid technologies to inspect infrastructure, identify issues before they cause outages, and reduce restoration times. In the West, member companies are also deploying AI-enabled cameras to detect wildfires earlier, helping first responders act faster.

Mutual Assistance

A hallmark of the electric power industry is mutual assistance—the long-standing tradition of mobilizing resources to help support communities in need.

Ahead of major storms and other natural disasters, electric companies coordinate to identify resource needs and position additional personnel, equipment, and supplies to expedite power restoration. This preparation helps enable a safe, organized, and rapid response in affected communities.

Created decades ago, EEI’s mutual assistance network provides a formal yet flexible process for electric companies to request support from companies in other parts of the country not affected by major outages. EEI and its member companies also conduct exercises throughout the year to test and strengthen the system in the event of widespread disruptions.

“In the event of a very large storm, then we may call on our neighboring utility to come and help us out, so that we can restore safely and with the right number of resources,” said David Bunge, senior manager of emergency preparedness at ComEd.

“We’re not in it alone,” said Stephanie Gossman, general manager of planning and policy at Georgia Power. “That’s one of the things I love about America’s electric companies, and the fact that we work together across this industry to tackle challenges, including getting the lights back on.”

How Customers Can Prepare Now

Customers also play an important role in preparing for severe weather. Taking the following steps now can help improve safety and readiness:

Visit www.ready.gov to learn how to plan, prepare, and act in your community.

Review EEI’s hurricane safety tips and wildfire safety tips and keep an emergency outage kit stocked and readily available.

Develop an emergency plan, including arrangements for any special medical needs or evacuation support.

Stock up on non-perishable food, water, medications, and other necessities, and monitor local weather reports on radio, television, and online.

Make sure your contact information is current with your local electric company so you can receive status and safety updates during an emergency.

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide safe, reliable electricity for nearly 250 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States and drives economic growth and prosperity. EEI also includes hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electric-companies-prepare-year-round-to-strengthen-grid-for-severe-weather-302809847.html

SOURCE Edison Electric Institute

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China Xplained | The China Squeeze, or the China Opportunity?

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September 6, 2026

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This is a news report from South: 

Is China’s manufacturing rise squeezing out or creating opportunities for other economies?

Ahead of the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in China this November, journalists and experts from around the world gathered in Guangdong for the Asia-Pacific Media Forum (APMF) 2026.

The forum opened in Shenzhen on September 5, bringing together more than 400 representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from international organizations.

Before the opening of the forum, participants travelled across Guangdong to see China’s industries and development first-hand.

In this episode of China Xplained, we look at the numbers, supply chains, investment and voices from across the developing world—to ask a bigger question: Is China squeezing out room for other economies?

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-xplained–the-china-squeeze-or-the-china-opportunity-302870814.html

SOURCE South

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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September 6, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-d7-named-honoree-in-ifa-innovation-awards-for-best-in-ifa-next–emerging-technologies-302870806.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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September 6, 2026

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/asia-pacific-media-forum-held-in-chinas-guangdong-302870809.html

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