Why is Big Data such a Big Deal for electric utilities? Because many are starting to use advanced analytics software to turn the volumes of data streaming in from smart grid technologies into actionable business intelligence. In part one of our new buying guide, you'll discover some of the benefits they're seeing - including just-released results from Oncor's ambitious analytics initiative with IBM.

Utilities are now getting much more data about their equipment via meters, sensors and other intelligent devices and seeing the benefits of software that can pull together all that information and make sense of it. As a result, strategic asset management is entering its next phase, which is the focus of our latest eBook developed with the experts at UTILICASE. Download the free eBook to learn how your utility can glean the benefits of advanced analytics to develop a more strategic asset care program.

Managing the massive amounts of data smart grids make possible isn't the biggest hurdle for utilities, according to the results of an Electric Power Research Institute survey. The really big issue is how to wring quantifiable value out of it.

The challenge in energy efficiency is not so much rolling out the programs. The hardest part is the verification that allows the utility to get proper credit. Seattle-based EnergySavvy and its partners are out to change that. Click for details on the new Audit Partner Program.

In announcing a new collaboration between Siemens and Teradata in the data analytics space, the companies hint at new offerings that will be purpose-built for the electric power industry.

In this first replay segment, Accenture Senior Manager Matt Comte discusses the benefits of setting up an analytics roadmap. He also explains why starting out with a pilot program can help your utility explore the various ways analytics can transform business practices.

Tom Humphreys, who is BGE's Project Manager, Advanced Metering Capabilities, provides an overview of his utility's analytics pilot program. In this second replay segment he also describes the approach BGE used to introduce the analytics initiative, develop value cases and then determine those that looked most promising.

This third segment features Chandra Shekhar Raj, who is Data Analytics Project Manager for Accenture. He drills down on some of the value cases that were implemented at BGE in the areas of theft analysis and demand response, describing the various scenarios involved and results achieved.

In this fourth and final replay segment, Tom Humphreys of BGE and Chandra Shekhar Raj and Matt Comte of Accenture provide more examples of analytics value cases that were implemented at BGE, including voltage analysis and net meter and defective meter analysis. They also highlight critical success factors and lessons learned from these experiences.

Click to download the slide deck used in SGN's March 26, 2013 webinar featuring experts from Baltimore Gas & Electric and Accenture discussing data analytics and how to gain business intelligence from AMI data.

Virtually every utility with AMI is now studying how to pull insights from the data that is pouring in. But rather than custom building solutions, today many utilities want pre-packaged options. Click for details on Itron's latest MDM offering that includes pre-built analytics modules.

If you're curious about the value utilities are actually realizing from advanced analytics, BGE's collaboration with Accenture is a good place to start. Click for a look at the process they're using and some of the intriguing analytics apps they are running to solve real business problems.

Houston-based CenterPoint Energy is one of the world's true smart grid leaders. So when CenterPoint makes a move, it's worth paying attention. This time, they are launching a company-wide platform for customer interaction, one that pulls together all four of its lines of business in all six of its states.

GE will incorporate Google Maps data into its Smallworld applications to give utilities a better view of their networks. The ability to visualize and analyze data on a map means utilities can more accurately monitor the efficiency and productivity of field operations and give customers up-to-date information on things like outage restoration times.

GE has been a top supplier of grid hardware for years, but is making a notable move into smart grid software with its Grid IQ Insight analytics offering. We take a good look at what it does, how it works and what utilities should know about its features and custom-built solutions.