Start with a Fully Baked Smart Grid Roadmap and Then Develop Your Data Management Framework

By Michael Burck

Developing a successful framework for Smart Grid data management starts with a roadmap which establishes an effective, cost-efficient approach toward Smart Grid implementation.

Data management basics â€¦
Building a Future-Friendly Data Management Framework
7 Tips from the Trenches
Data Management Q&A Series: Experts Answer Your Questions
A Repeatable Framework for Smart Grid Data Management
Vendors See Huge Opportunities in All That Data
Warning: The New Security Demands You Can’t Ignore
Achieving High Performance in Smart Grid Data Management
MDM Trends and Technologies
Smart Grid Strategies

No two Smart Grids will be the same, and each utility will need to consider its unique environment and circumstances. Every program should consider the analysis of specific internal and external factors.  These include such things as:

·         Existing capabilities

·         Specific business goals

·         Regulatory/legislative environment

·         Customer demographics

In addition, a comprehensive approach is critical because Smart Grid impacts all functional areas within a utility organization.

From the outset, it is important to evaluate the current state and establish a baseline of existing capabilities within the utility that are relevant to Smart Grid. Gaps between current business processes and their data exchanges, along with the desired end state, should be a key component of the Smart Grid roadmap. This step clarifies how data will be generated, transported, persisted and transformed in the Smart Grid context.  It will also provide the guidance for technologies and standards along with identifying the associated organizational and process challenges.

At each stage of developing the Smart Grid data framework, it’s important to provide a link to the company’s Smart Grid vision and identified business values to achieve both internal and external stakeholder alignment.

Accenture’s experience suggests that while sponsorship from across the enterprise is critical for success, the scale of the challenge involved means utilities should also be prepared to seek support externally. That means looking to subject matter experts, industry groups, vendors and lessons learned from other industries in order to land on the optimal solution for the specific utility’s unique needs.

Dedicated resources focused on Smart Grid are also important. These should be drawn from various aspects of the company in order to ensure that the business and IT are involved and engaged in partnership. A dedicated organization can help shepherd the development of a data management framework. Therefore, governance and coordination of all Smart Grid efforts need to be managed centrally with cross-organizational representation so that the interests of one business unit are not able to predominate. Execution activities can be distributed, but must not be in silos as there are too many interdependencies which could lead to stranded cost, dependency roadblocks and inefficient budget spend. 

To this end, a Smart Grid roadmap can encourage collaboration between all execution work streams to work collectively towards delivery and provide transparency across the organization.

Michael Burck is a Senior Manager at Accenture where his current priority is providing a full-range of delivery services from roadmapping to implementation of various Smart Grid capabilities for utility clients in North America.

Additional SGN resources …

Video and Slides from High Performance in Data Management webinar

A Repeatable Framework for Achieving High Performance in Smart Grid Data Management (graphic/pdf)

Smart Grid Growth Brings Challenges — and More Than a Little Anxiety — for Utilities

Smart Grid in Motion (white paper/pdf)

Accenture Launches Smart Grid Data Management Solution to Reduce Risks and Costs of Smart Grid Deployments (press release/pdf)

Developing a Smart Grid Roadmap for a Regional Utility Company (case study/pdf)

Smart Grid Roadmap: The Missing Ingredient

AMI and MDMS Deployment Best Practices (white paper/pdf)

Managing Enterprise Information for Smart Meters and Smart Grid (white paper/pdf)

Elsewhere on the Web …

Accenture: Achieving High Performance in Smart Grid Data Management

KEMA: Meter Data Management – The Key to Unlocking Benefits Throughout the Utility

Power & Energy: Considerations in Developing a Smart Grid Strategy and Roadmap

Electric Energy Online: Asset Management for AMI

Water and Wastes Digest: A Key to the Utility of the Future