An Integrated Approach to Electric Utility Processes IEEE-IAS REPC 2016 Rural Electric Power Conference (REPC) Gregory A. Wolven, P.E. Director of Engineering WIN Energy REMC Vincennes, IN

Gregory A. Wolven, P.E. In the past, all of us have lived with our software processes because…. “We have always done it this way”.

-Approximately 17,000 meters -2,648 Miles of distribution line -25 Distribution substations -9 Dedicated substations

Goals for this discussion Identify processes that are similar in every electric utility Show some of the data that can be shared between platforms (we do have time constraints) How this data can be shared between platforms ‘Lost opportunity cost’ Summary - What’s in it for the utility?

Terminology AMI – Automated Metering Infrastructure CIS – Customer Information System EA - Engineering Analysis – Electrical System Analysis software GIS – Geographic Information System IVR – Interactive Voice Response OMS – Outage Management System Process – Steps or actions taken to accomplish a goal MultiSpeak® –is a standard for the exchange of data among enterprise application software commonly applied in utilities Staking – Utility Line Design

Identify processes that are similar in every Electric Utility Line Design (staking) Graphical Information Systems – Maps (GIS) Outage Management System (OMS) Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Customer Information Systems(CIS) Engineering Analysis (EA) Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Silos of Information Staking GISCISOMSEAIVRAMI

The processes that CAN share information, and the focus of this paper

Line Design (staking) All electric utilities have to design their grid Looking at the ‘how’ the lines are designed as well as what information is, or can be, gathered in the design process gives insight to what can be integrated into other processes. – Changing the mind set of ‘That’s the way we have always done it’, can be a challenge. Look to what can benefit everyone as a starting point.

Example of an old staking sheet

Example of a new staking sheet

Line Design (cont.) Review the information needed to accomplish the mission Is there data already collected in this process that could be passed to another system to save re-entering data? – Head span, Back span, Wire size, single phase, material… Could a minor change in the collection process add more value to the overall system? – Obtain GPS coordinates? Could a change save labor as well as enhance the process for other systems? – Calculate the backspan Keep in mind that data storage is a minimal cost and while one process in the system MAY not need a certain piece of data, another process might.

Graphical Information Systems (GIS)

If you save the staking data in a geo-referenced background, simply staking a job can take care of your mapping creation, corrections, and updates.

Outage Management System (OMS)

If the data used in creating a geo-referenced background contains information like line connectivity (not in just picture attributes) the GIS system can feed this information to an OMS system and this will keep your OMS system up to date as jobs are posted.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)

If the data used in creating the OMS model can be linked to an intelligent IVR system, members can get any posted information specific to THEIR outage. The days of members/consumers hearing ‘We are experiencing storms in your area’ can go away and be replaced by ‘Storms in your area have knocked down trees near the intersection of Woodsmall Rd and Dallas Rd. Crews are on site. We expect to have power restored by 6pm Eastern. We apologize for the inconvenience.’ An IVR system can handle 3-5 times the number of calls a CSR can. Sometimes with more positive acceptance from the customer. They have the information they want in a timely manner.

Customer Information Systems (CIS)

Having the assemblies in staking electronically passed to a CIS system saves accounting time inputting into the CIS system for ordering, inventory and tax (CPR) record accounting. In the Electric Cooperative application, Special Equipment (transformers, meters, metering equipment) are replaced / changed through service orders. To keep the GIS, OMS, EA up to date on these items, there needs to be a method to update this equipment. Today, as meter information is changed in the CIS system, that information is passed to the OMS system. Transformer information is passed to the GIS system.

Engineering Analysis (EA)

Having the system data continuously kept up to date on line feed, substation impedances, transformer impedances, and wire sizes is a HUGE asset on flicker calculation, maximum fault current calculations, sectionalizing and Construction Work Plans. The laborious task of updating drawings (now GIS) and Engineering Applications is now reduced to a quick review. (ALWAYS review your work)

Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Automated Metering Infrastructure AMI An AMI system that can bring back interval data from all meters, time synchronized, allows the Engineer to do: ‘What if’ studies – can I switch this load to another circuit / substation? Construction Work Plans Long Range Work Plans Sectionalizing Studies Cost of Service Studies Transformer Loading Studies ……..

AMI Interval Data

‘Lost Opportunity Costs’ Money / time spent doing something when that same effort could be expended doing something else (when I’m doing ‘model updates’ I cannot simultaneously do ‘sectionalizing studies’). Traditionally done as ‘stand alone’ Creating maps Creating OMS model Creating EA model Creating correct IVR responses to specific issues. Obtaining the correct spot load at a specified time/date.

Summary This is a Total System approach versus an Individual Process approach. Each process is important on its own; however, using the Total System approach provides the utility with opportunities to excel beyond ‘just accomplishing the mission’ of the individual processes. Using a transport mechanism, such as MultiSpeak®, allows the end user the ability to buy the systems they want (‘Best of Breed’) not forcing them into buying a suit of products that may not fully fit the end use need. The emphasis on ‘Lost Opportunity Cost’, in my mind, cannot be overstated. There ARE money savings by taking the Total System approach over the traditional process silos. Time IS money. Lost time IS lost money.

Product Providers AMI – Landis and Gyr (Gridstream RF®) CIS – National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC - iVue) Engineering Analysis – Milsoft Utility Solutions (WindMil®) IVR – Milsoft Utility Solutions (Porche) Mapping - Milsoft Utility Solutions (WindMilMap®) MultiSpeak® - is a software data integration initiative of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) OMS – Milsoft Utility Solutions (DisSPatch®) Staking – GeoDigital International, Inc. (StakeOut)

Questions ? Gregory A. Wolven, P.E. Director of Engineering WIN Energy REMC Vincennes, IN