For example, GIS mapping information is invaluable to improving infrastructure inspection (pipelines, power lines, water mains, street lights) and leak detection (water, gas) or outage detection/malfunction (power). weather information, truck tracking information, and sensor device information. What it enables is a move from a static environment to a real-time environment where different types of data/information can be incorporated to model the service network, e.g. The integration of GIS technology into the back-office systems of utilities is helping operators gain new knowledge about their systems and operations that can be utilized for developing new solutions. Gis.com aptly defines GIS as “a system that integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.” GIS allows users to see, understand, query, and analyze data in the form of maps, charts, and reports, and thus visualize patterns, trends, and relationships that would not be obvious otherwise. Vi) Wireless technologies – ranging from Wi-Fi to GPRS/EDGE (for GSM) and EVDO/HSDPA for CDMA V) Wireline communication systems and technologies Iv) Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and automatic meter reading (AMR) technology realized via “smart meters”

I) Geographic information systems (GIS) technology In this context, there are six technologies that we see as collectively making an impact in utility industry operations. In addition, the need to conserve and utilize investment wisely requires that the existing infrastructure be used as efficiently as possible–whether it be pipelines, tanks, and valves for the gas and water utilities or power lines, transformers, distribution centers and meters for the power utilities. What technologies are used and how?Īs mentioned earlier, the utilities need to look out 10-20 years into the future, and develop techniques and infrastructure that would remain viable over this time horizon. Thereafter, we will give a brief landscape of the various vendors/players involved in supplying these advanced solutions, and conclude with a look to what the future holds, say a decade from today. We will then focus on some utilities that are using, or planning the use of, these technologies, and give a couple of representative examples of such new initiatives. We will describe a bit what the new technologies are and how they are used. In the remainder of this article, we will focus on outlining what efficiencies the utilities are aiming for, and how these efficiencies are being achieved via the use of wireline, wireless, cable and fiber technologies. power lines, fiber plant) to provide advanced or new services to their existing customer base.M Apply these progressive technologies to better use their existing assets (e.g.Utilize advanced technologies in communications, software, computing and mapping to streamline their own businesses, and, in some cases, to fundamentally change the way they operate and interact with the end-customer.Indeed the reason that utilities have turned to advanced technology today is two-fold. This led to the utility industry turning to intelligent ways to manage their operations and business processes, and set in motion the induction of a number of new technologies that would enable them to more effectively run their businesses. So, about a decade ago, when concerns over issues such as climate change, environmental impact, and resource conservation surfaced, there arose a need for cost-effective solutions for the management of the utility networks and regulation of demand. The service areas and the customer base of the utilities have grown, literally exponentially, and continue to do so to this day. Why are utilities interested in using wired, cable, wireless, and fiber optics in their business? Click here to enlarge image Vishal Sharma What Next-Generation Utilities are Gearing Up ForĪlthough it may be surprising to some, until just a few short years ago, the fundamental method of operation of the major utilities–power, gas, water–had remained essentially unchanged for nearly a century! The delivery systems, the layout and maintenance of the infrastructure, and the method of operation (reading meters, billing customers, solving outage problems) all were fundamentally the same as they were when broad distribution of power, water, and gas through the utility networks began at the start of the 20th century.

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