Connect systems, streamline operations and enable data-driven decision-making across departments
Several factors today are dramatically impacting the utility industry, spurring significant modernization and digital transformation strategies. Inflation, grid reliability and resiliency, and the ever-present battle to keep costs down all play a role. And let’s not forget–utilities still want to reduce their carbon footprint.
In addition, the grid is only getting more complex as distributed energy and renewables introduce an influx of new information and variables into the ecosystem. The traditional one-way flow of electricity from centralized power plants to consumers is giving way to a bidirectional grid where distributed generation plays an increasingly significant role.
These market forces combine to demand a new approach to utility operations. At the heart of this transformation lies the need for integrated enterprise systems that seamlessly connect various departments, streamline operations and enable data-driven decision-making.
By breaking down data silos and fostering collaboration across the organization, utilities can enhance operational efficiency, improve customer service and adapt to new business models. Moreover, they have a foundation for successfully addressing current and future market demands in an ever-changing energy landscape.
Customer Expectations and Industry Upheaval
Utilities today must contend with a myriad of challenges stemming from the evolving energy sector and customer demands for affordable quality service at an affordable price.
The traditional siloed approach to operations no longer works. Not only do more people and departments need cross-communication and collaboration, but the very nature of exponential data growth—from assets, applications, networks, customers and beyond—requires a new paradigm for success; specifically, utilities have an urgent need for integrated enterprise systems.
One factor for this new integrated approach involves adding distributed resources to the grid. As more customers adopt solar panels, energy storage systems and electric vehicles, utilities must find ways to accommodate these resources effectively while maintaining grid stability. This requires real-time visibility into the grid and coordinating various systems and data sources.
Another significant pain point is the need to improve resiliency and reliability in the face of increasingly extreme weather events and cybersecurity threats. Utilities must be able to quickly detect, respond to and recover from outages and other disruptions, which necessitates seamless communication between different departments and systems.
Moreover, utilities feel the pressure to provide better customer service and new, value-added services. In an era where consumers experience innovations and convenience from brands like Amazon, Apple and Uber, customer expectations across industries, including utilities, have risen. Customers want more personalized digital experiences, real-time information about their energy usage and the ability to participate in energy-saving programs. Meeting these expectations requires utilities to view customer data across various touchpoints comprehensively.
Lastly, the shift from a one-directional to a bidirectional grid presents operational and business model challenges. Utilities must adapt their systems and processes to handle the complexities of managing multidirectional power flow while exploring new revenue streams and services.
Utility industry challenges include:
- Integrating renewables and multidirectional energy flow
- Improving grid resiliency
- Enhancing customer experience
- Optimizing grid management and maintenance activities
- Adapting to new business models
Why Integrating Enterprise Systems Matters
Integrating enterprise systems offers utilities a powerful solution to address their challenges in today’s dynamic energy landscape. By connecting various software systems and data sources, utilities can create a cohesive operational environment that enhances efficiency, improves decision-making and organizational visibility, enables new services, capabilities, business models and more.
One of the primary benefits of integration is the ability to create a more complete and accurate picture of the utility’s operations. By connecting systems such as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), outage management systems (OMS) distribution management systems (DMS), geographic systems (GIS), customer information systems (CIS) and distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS), utilities can gain real-time insights into grid performance, customer behavior and asset health.
For example, integrating AMI with OMS and DMS can provide utilities with more accurate and timely information about outages, enabling faster response times and improved customer communication, which leads to greater customer satisfaction. Similarly, connecting GIS with CIS and DERMS can help utilities better manage the integration of renewables by providing a spatial or map-based visualization and understanding of where these resources are located and how they impact the grid.
Integration also enables utilities to automate many processes that were previously manual and time-consuming. For instance, by connecting CIS with AMI and billing systems, utilities can automate meter reading, billing and payment processes, reducing errors and increasing efficiency.
Integrated systems also allow for better data sharing and collaboration across departments. For example, when planning grid upgrades or maintenance, engineers can access data from multiple systems to get a comprehensive view of asset performance, customer demand and potential constraints.
Lastly, connecting systems provides the foundation for utilities to offer new services and adapt to changing business models. By having a unified view of customer data, grid performance and renewable integration, utilities can develop personalized energy management services. For example, they can implement dynamic pricing strategies and facilitate peer-to-peer energy transactions.
Integrated Systems for Every Process
Enterprise systems integration opens up a world of possibilities for workflow optimization, from outage management to predictive maintenance to billing. Utilities can connect people, processes, data and applications for a more complete, data-driven solution. Some examples of use cases improved include:
Outage management and restoration: By integrating AMI, OMS, DMS, and GIS, utilities can quickly detect outages, pinpoint their locations and dispatch crews more efficiently. This integration enables faster restoration times and improved customer communication during outage events.
DER integration and management: Connecting DERMS with ADMS, GIS and AMI allows utilities to effectively monitor, control and optimize distributed energy resources. This integration helps maintain grid stability while maximizing the benefits of renewable energy sources.
Predictive maintenance: Integrating asset management systems with SCADA, GIS and weather data enables utilities to predict potential equipment failures before they occur. This proactive approach can significantly reduce downtime and maintenance costs.
Customer engagement and energy management: By integrating CIS, AMI and energy management platforms, utilities can provide customers with detailed insights into their energy usage and personalized recommendations for energy savings. This integration enhances customer satisfaction and supports energy efficiency initiatives.
Grid flexibility and demand response: Integrating DERMS, AMI and demand response systems allows utilities to implement more sophisticated load management strategies. This integration enables utilities to balance supply and demand more effectively, especially during peak periods.
Automated billing and revenue management: Connecting CIS, AMI, and billing systems streamlines the meter-to-cash process, reducing errors and improving revenue collection. This integration also enables more flexible billing options and dynamic pricing models.
Regulatory compliance and reporting: Integrating various systems allows utilities to automate data collection and reporting processes, ensuring accurate and timely compliance with regulatory requirements. This integration reduces the administrative burden and the risk of non-compliance.
The Benefits of Bringing Systems Together
Integrating enterprise systems offers numerous benefits for utilities, enabling them to operate more efficiently, serve customers better and adapt to changing market conditions. Here are the top five benefits achieved through system integration:
- Improved operational efficiency
Integrated systems streamline workflows and automate processes, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors. This leads to significant cost savings and allows staff to focus on higher-value tasks.
- Enhanced decision-making
Integrated systems enable more informed and timely decision-making by providing a holistic view of operations. This comprehensive perspective allows utilities to optimize resource allocation and respond quickly to changing conditions.
- Better customer service
Integrated systems provide a 360-degree view of customer interactions and usage patterns. This enables utilities to offer personalized services and respond more effectively to customer inquiries and issues.
- Increased grid reliability and resilience
By connecting various monitoring and control systems, utilities can better predict, prevent and respond to outages and other grid disturbances. This integration leads to improved grid stability and faster service restoration.
- Adaptability to new business models
Integrated systems provide the flexibility needed to implement new services and revenue streams. This adaptability is crucial as utilities transition to a more distributed, customer-centric energy landscape.
Ready to Integrate? Follow These First Steps
As utilities embark on the journey of system integration, careful planning and execution are crucial for success. Here are three key recommendations to guide utilities through the integration process:
- Develop a clear integration strategy
Identify business goals and prioritize integration use cases that deliver the most value. A well-defined strategy ensures alignment across the organization and guides the implementation process. - Ensure data quality and standardization
Data is the backbone of integration. Clean, standardized data allows systems to communicate effectively and supports accurate insights and automation. - Prioritize cybersecurity and compliance
As systems become more interconnected, the risk of cyber threats increases. Prioritizing security and ensuring compliance with industry regulations is essential for protecting sensitive data and maintaining trust.
Seamlessly Connect and Optimize Systems with TRC
With deep industry expertise and a comprehensive approach, TRC can guide utilities through every process step, from strategy development to system integration and ongoing support. TRC’s multidisciplinary team combines utility operations knowledge with advanced technology skills, enabling them to bridge the gap between current capabilities and future goals.
With TRC, clients gain:
- Deep Utility Expertise: TRC has a deep bench of experts with experience in control systems, metering, geospatial, distributed energy, energy markets and other utility domains.
- Vendor Relationships: TRC is vendor agnostic but has strong relationships with a variety of vendors, providing insight into their platforms and operations.
- Proven Experience: TRC has a track record of successful integration projects with numerous utility customers.
- Comprehensive Approach: TRC offers a comprehensive approach, from strategy development to implementation and support.
- Technology Agnostic: TRC is technology-agnostic, recommending the best solutions for each utility’s unique needs.
