Michael Covarrubias, Author at Utility Analytics Institute

Strategy Technology

How effective is your Data Model in supporting Enterprise Analytics?

An enterprise data model will help utilities drive value out of the data platform in fulfilling the holistic approach of semantic reconciliation, sourcing and data governance, as well as the application of data transformation rules and metadata enrichment.…

Michael CovarrubiasApril 29, 2021

Technology Strategy

Bringing Automated Inspection From Concept to Scale by “Closing the Loop”

Computer vision and the quickly evolving field of drones and robotics for inspection have become key figures in the race to realize automated operations across generation and grid. Just over a decade ago, I observed my first computer…

Gabe PradoApril 27, 2021

Videos

Salt River Project Smart Usage Alerts Project at UA Summit 2021

UAI's Erin Hardick talks with Gary Rector, Data Scientist at Salt River Project (SRP), about SRP's Smart Usage Alerts project. At UA Summit 2021, Gary will give an update on how the project has progressed over the…

Sandi JoralemonApril 20, 2021

Grid Strategy Technology

Artificial Intelligence: How good is good enough?

Artificial intelligence is a great tool for specific purposes but it’s not a panacea for grid automation. Speak with any data scientist about artificial intelligence (AI) and you’ll soon hear one common gripe: that hype lifts expectations to…

Stuart RavensApril 20, 2021

Technology Strategy

Why Satellite-Informed Vegetation Management is Rapidly Becoming the New Industry Standard

Satellites offer the utility industry enormous opportunities in the area of vegetation management. Students graduating from universities today most likely have never used a paper map to find their destination. The advent of GPS navigation, in combination with…

LiveEOApril 5, 2021

Grid Strategy Technology

Using Data Visualization to Realize Return on Smart Grid Investments

Data visualization software can help utilities visualize the return on smart grid investments and show how much change smart grid technologies bring. Data visualization is the graphical representation of data and information using visual elements such as maps,…

Live EarthMarch 31, 2021

Technology Grid Strategy

Three Problems Data Can Solve for Utilities—And One it Can’t

Apply data and analytics to solve these common challenges No utility has a perfect data and analytics strategy. There are simply too many problems to solve. From cybersecurity to asset inventory to customer experience, utilities are stretched way…

Robert LakeMarch 22, 2021

Uncategorized Strategy Technology

Outsourcing and Analytics: Foresight Makes the Difference

Outsourcing has emerged as a way to support utility analytics activities, but it comes with trade-offs. Outsourcing IT and business processes is not new to utilities. With the increased popularity of analytics, outsourcing has emerged as a way…

Jill FeblowitzMarch 12, 2021

Uncategorized Grid Strategy Technology

For T & D Leaders, Change Is NOT on the Horizon. It’s Here NOW.

The increasingly dynamic nature of the grid means platforms need to handle all aspects of the analytic modelling process in an integrated and seamless fashion to rapidly get from analytical model development to business decision-making. The proliferation…

Mike Smith, George MathewMarch 10, 2021

Technology

Estimating Electricity-Elasticity of GRP for Long-Term Demand Forecasting–Executive Summary

February Data Science Community Meeting Estimating Electricity-Elasticity of GRP for Long-Term Demand Forecasting Purpose February’s Data Science Community Meeting featured Alex Elder, PhD, Data Scientist for The Energy Authority (TEA) speaking about estimating electricity-elasticity of GRP for long-term…

Utility Analytics InstituteFebruary 25, 2021

Uncategorized Customer Strategy

Portfolio Optimization Via More Surgical Customer Resource Acquisition and Evaluation

Blending customer-centricity and utility priorities is the art of portfolio optimization, but doing so can be perfectly scientific. In the first two articles of this series, I detailed how utilities can 1) use data science to break down…

Tom MartinFebruary 23, 2021

Strategy

REPORT: Reimagining the Utility Analytics Roadmap, Executive Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A lot has changed over the past four years. There is more clarity about alternative organizational models, useful process methodologies, technology architecture and tool options, and the skill sets needed to develop and implement an analytics…

Utility Analytics InstituteFebruary 16, 2021