Smart Switch Technology Aims to Reduce Outages in St. Charles

In August, crews installed an IntelliRupter, also known as a smart switch, in the historic Frenchtown neighborhood. The newly installed device will support reliability for approximately 1,700 homes and businesses.

Smart switches are pole-mounted devices that can detect a disruption in the power supply and automatically switch power to another source. This rapid response can reduce outages that could otherwise last hours or days, down to minutes or even seconds. “Smart switches essentially act as electronic first responders,” says Matt Tosh, director of Dorsett and St. Charles operations for Ameren Missouri. “They allow our crews to stay focused on making repairs and returning the grid to normal operations.”

From January to July 2024, smart switches prevented more than 36,000 outages during major storms. Since 2021, these devices have prevented more than 150,000 outages – the equivalent of avoiding 44 million minutes' worth of outages.

Smart switches aren’t just critical during storms; they can also prevent unexpected outages when electrical equipment is damaged. Ameren Missouri has installed more than 1,500 smart switches throughout the state thanks to investments through its Smart Energy Plan.