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For most Americans, the true cost of energy shows up every month in the form of a bill that seems to climb no matter how careful you are. You feel it when the AC runs a little longer in July, when the heat kicks on during a cold front, or when a storm knocks out power and everything you rely on suddenly stops. Energy is the backbone of daily life. Yet the system behind it is strained, aging, and more expensive than ever. And American families are paying the price.
That’s the world Juan Manuel Perdigón Sistiva is trying to fix. As an engineer who specializes in artificial intelligence and digital transformation for the energy sector, he works on the invisible machinery that keeps the country running. His mission is to make that machinery smarter so people can spend less, worry less, and trust that the lights will stay on when they need them most.
The Department of Energy has warned that outdated industrial systems, high emissions, and aging infrastructure are pushing costs up for millions of Americans. The federal plan to expand artificial intelligence across energy and industry goes beyond innovation. It’s about stabilizing the essentials people rely on every day. Juan’s work fits directly into those efforts by turning advanced AI into practical tools that reduce waste, prevent failures, and make the entire system more affordable to operate.
Juan’s fascination with fixing things started young. “Since I was a kid, I’ve been driven by the question, ‘How do things work?’” he shared. That curiosity eventually led him to two engineering degrees and a career focused on solving real-world problems through technology. Early in his career, he discovered that even small digital improvements could reshape entire operations. “Almost everything can be improved, simplified, or accelerated through technology,” he says. “I saw firsthand how the right tools can protect workers, save companies millions, and make operations more sustainable.”
One moment in particular showed him what was possible. While working with an energy operator managing more than one hundred wells, Juan helped implement an AI system that predicts failures in critical pumps. “The data showed early warning signals weeks before a breakdown,” he says. “The company avoided millions in losses and significantly reduced downtime.” But what stays with him is not just the savings. It’s the scale. Thousands of wells across the country run on the same technology. If one company can avoid major failures through predictive alerts, imagine the ripple effect nationwide.
He believes AI can also meaningfully cut emissions and move the country closer to its climate goals, not by reinventing the entire system overnight but by eliminating inefficiencies at the source. “AI cuts emissions by reducing waste and keeping equipment running efficiently,” he says. “It’s thousands of small decisions that add up to a cleaner, more stable, more affordable energy system.”
A big part of his work focuses on the companies that don’t have massive budgets or dedicated tech teams. “Most of the value comes from small digital improvements,” he says. “Better data visibility, predictive alerts, and streamlined workflows can make a huge difference. When companies see that technology saves money instead of draining it, adoption becomes easier.” These changes do more than stabilize operations. They create high-skill jobs, attract investment, and give struggling regions a chance to compete in a rapidly evolving industry.
“There are thousands of critical assets operating without early-warning systems,” he shares. “When something fails, it becomes a community issue, a safety issue, and an economic issue almost immediately.” The cracks in the system aren’t always visible until something goes wrong. And by then, the consequences are already touching people’s lives.
But he’s hopeful, because the solutions already exist. If the U.S. adopted predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring at scale over the next five years, Juan believes the impact on everyday Americans would be tremendous. “It means lower bills, fewer outages, and a more resilient system, especially during extreme weather or high-demand periods,” he says. “Energy stops being something complicated or fragile and becomes more reliable and affordable for everyone.”
Smarter systems make stronger, more affordable communities. By bringing advanced AI into the country’s energy backbone, Juan isn’t just improving technology, he’s helping the U.S. build a system that is more resilient, less wasteful, and far less expensive to operate. This kind of progress directly supports the nation’s push for cleaner industry and more reliable infrastructure. His vision is to give millions of families lower bills, fewer disruptions, and a safer, more stable energy future.
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This content is brought to you by Melissa Moraes.
Photo provided by the author.
