Nearly every utility in the world has embarked on their own journey of digital transformation, using data to help make processes faster and more efficient.
Traditionally, utility data has been collected in silos to support individual functions, and utilities have been hard at work to break down these silos so data can be shared among teams and provide a more holistic view of their operation. But as the silos fall and data flows freely, a new challenge has emerged—how to activate that data, and extract value.
COMMENTARY
Workflow Integration and Scalability
Acquiring data is one thing, but putting it to work is quite another. For starters, utilities are getting data from a variety of sources, like drone inspections, weather stations, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and smart meters. All that data must first be combined and centralized to create a unified dataset, then processed and analyzed by humans and artificial intelligence (AI) for insights. From there, utilities need to create a plan as to how to turn those insights into action, and that’s where many are struggling. It’s like having a bunch of ingredients without a recipe, or a chef.
Recent research from Gartner shows that global AI software spending in the utilities market is forecast to reach $17.8 billion by 2027. Given this huge investment in data processing power, there is a lot of pressure on utilities to start showing immediate results, but it’s important to also consider the long-term scalability of data. Meaning, by creating a workflow for how data moves through the organization from ingestion to integration, utilities can handle increasing volumes of data by directing and storing it in the right place, even if it can’t be used right away.
As the central data silos within utility companies continue to break down, all that information can be harvested by different functions to improve their decision making. And among the functions that might need the most help, is asset management.
The Asset Management Imperative
According to the Dept. of Energy, 70% of utility assets are more than 25 years old and approaching the end of their lifecycle, which increases the likelihood of power outages, susceptibility to cyberattacks, and emergencies caused by faulty grid infrastructure. Studies have shown that extending asset lifespans is among the most important metrics for North American energy companies, but to do so will require more intelligent asset management strategies.
This asset management imperative presents a unique opportunity for utilities looking to activate their data in a more meaningful way, while also creating a foundation for future efficiencies. Here are three ways that utilities can activate their data to optimize asset management:
Better Mapping & Cross-Functional Capabilities: For decades, field crews would rely on paper maps to track utility asset locations and help identify infrastructure like power lines, pipes, and cables. Updates were hand-drawn and given to back-office staff to manually enter into multiple applications. This was an inefficient process that was prone to human error. Virtually all utilities now use some sort of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to digitally map the precise location of their infrastructure, and that information is shared with dispatchers and field crews to ensure everyone stays safe. But as silos are broken down, utilities are finding that GIS data can also be shared across multiple departments.
Let’s say a utility wanted to look at a specific neighborhood’s distribution lines to monitor for issues like vegetation encroachment, broken insulators, or corroded conductors. Rather than physically inspecting the area, now an asset manager can use GIS records of pole locations to create a digital map for drone operators. As soon as the drone images are uploaded, AI can process the data in mere minutes to provide detailed information about the location, condition, and connectivity of all utility assets. And as more data flows into the GIS systems, that information is updated in real-time for other functions, ultimately leading to improved operational effectiveness.
Predictive Maintenance: Utilities are constantly monitoring the health of their assets with images captured by UAVs (drones), helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, and field crews that are inspecting T&D and substation infrastructure. This creates a huge amount of visual data that helps utilities identify anomalies that may present an issue, but utilities can also use data to get more proactive. Utilities are outfitting equipment with sensors that can provide real-time performance monitoring, and then layering-in powerful AI technology that can quickly analyze historical trends to identify potential anomalies before they occur. This approach optimizes maintenance operations, helps reduce the risk of major failures, and increases overall system reliability.
Other benefits of predictive maintenance for asset management include: the ability to make data-driven decisions based on current information, fewer truck rolls and reduced response costs, the institutionalization of knowledge (as more workers retire), and improved customer relationships stemming from less downtime.
Work Order Prioritization: Closely related to predictive maintenance is work order management, which is how a utility creates, assigns, and tracks maintenance tasks. Typical work orders could include routine upkeep, compliance checks, or emergency repairs, and it’s essentially a structured way of organizing field crew activity across a utility’s territory. Until recently, managing work orders was a manual process that required a careful orchestration of resources based on a limited amount of information given to a dispatcher. But as utilities get smarter with their data, the work order process is getting modernized.
By using data to track key performance metrics like mean-time-to-repair (MTTR), completion rates, and maintenance costs, utilities can get a more holistic picture of their network and prioritize where work is needed most. They can also use AI to identify patterns in work order data, analyze safety risks, and assign urgency levels that can help with resource allocation. The best part is that much of this data already exists; it’s just being underutilized. But when utilities activate that data, they can gain better visibility into all work orders from initiation to completion, ensuring an efficient operation with minimal service disruptions.
Continuous Improvement Through Data
In the year ahead, the utilities industry will continue to face myriad challenges as it works to enhance grid reliability and resilience. Signs of progress are everywhere, but the companies that survive eras of rapid change are those that are flexible, resourceful, and operate with a mindset of continuous improvement. Now is the time for utilities to think more creatively about their data, and find new ways to use as much of it as possible to improve their decision making. Because when it comes to the future of utilities, knowledge is power.
—Vikhyat Chaudhry is CTO/COO and co-founder at Buzz Solutions.