Establishing Data Governance in Utilities
Building the Foundation
Kicking off a data governance program shouldn’t mean starting from scratch.
Across the utility industry, there’s growing recognition that better decisions depend on better data—and that better data doesn’t happen by accident. It takes structure, shared understanding, and consistent care over time. That’s where a data governance program comes in.
This e-book is a practical, utility-focused guide designed for professionals who are working to bring clarity and coordination to how data is treated as a strategic asset. Whether you’re tasked with figuring out how to begin, being asked to participate in a new effort, or working to build support across your organization, this guide offers support grounded in real-world utility experience.
Momentum is already building. A group of our member utilities has formed a team to put this guide into practice through individual pilot programs. Each is applying the approach in ways that reflect their own goals, challenges, and environments. In doing so, they’re demonstrating how data governance can be flexible, meaningful, and deeply relevant to the work utilities are already doing.
Data governance isn’t about perfection. It’s about making intentional choices that help organizations align teams, strengthen the foundation for analytics, and increase both confidence in data-driven decisions and the organization’s ability to advance its analytics capabilities.
What Makes This Resource Different
There’s no shortage of models and definitions out there, but what many teams really need is a practical starting point that leads to attainable progress and early wins. This practical guide for establishing data governance focuses on helping utility professionals build a foundation that makes sense for their organization, with an emphasis on showing value early at both the individual and organizational level.
It speaks directly to the utility context, drawing on examples and language that reflect the way utilities operate. It isn’t a rigid framework or checklist. Instead, it’s a thoughtful, flexible companion for people who care about quality, accountability, and using data to solve meaningful problems.
It’s More Than Structure, It’s Strategy
Inside, you’ll find the tools and direction you need to:
- Identify stakeholders and clarify roles within a data governance program.
- Align your data governance program with your organization’s business goals.
- Write a data governance charter using one of the customizable templates included in the guide, designed to kick start your journey.
- Launch a data governance pilot project tied to a real business problem.
- Measure success using example metrics designed to reflect progress.
You’ll also find support for building buy-in and managing change, along with clear definitions, step-by-step guidance, and ready-to-use resources to help you build a business case and communicate the value of data governance across all levels of your organization.
A Real-World Path to Progress
At the core of the guide is a suggested approach to piloting data governance within a utility analytics program. It walks through how to assess the utility’s current state, focus on a specific business problem, apply the framework, build early momentum, and develop a repeatable process.
The steps within are designed to help teams take meaningful action without becoming overwhelmed. Each stage connects data governance efforts to tangible outcomes, offering a clear path from planning to execution to impact.
To support that process, the guide also includes a full set of customizable templates. These resources are ready to use and built to put data governance into motion. You’ll also find helpful links to relevant industry standards and a glossary of key terms to support shared understanding across the organization.
Bottom Line
If you work in utility analytics, you’re already experiencing the effects of data governance or the lack thereof. This guide helps utilities shift to an intentional and manageable approach to data governance, grounded in utility-specific needs and field-tested results.
Members have full access to this guide along with other resources designed to support utility analytics professionals. To learn more about what membership offers, visit our About UAI page.
If you’re looking for resources that bring direction, clarity, and momentum to your utility analytics initiatives and a community of peers working together to uncover opportunities and solve meaningful challenges, this is the place to begin.
Meet Our Guest Authors
This article introduces a UAI member only resource: A Practical Guide for Establishing Data Governance in Utilities, authored by:
Mark Peco is a consultant, educator, and practitioner specializing in business intelligence, process improvement, and data management. With extensive experience in the energy sector, he has a deep understanding of the business context, operational challenges, and data-driven opportunities that help management solve complex issues and improve performance.
He holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in engineering from the University of Waterloo and serves on the faculty of UAI, TDWI, McMaster University, and York University, delivering courses on data governance, data management, and analytics.
Mark’s expertise in data warehousing, business intelligence, real-time process monitoring and control, operations planning and scheduling, control center management, plant performance optimization, business transaction control, simulation, and analytics is complemented by his experience as an engineer in operations management. He has led numerous consulting and integration projects, guiding clients through fundamental shifts in business models and technology. A global instructor for over a decade, he is passionate about helping professionals develop a shared understanding of complex data concepts.
MARC-ERIC LAROCQUE
mark.larocque@inceptds.com
Marc-Eric LaRocque is a seasoned data governance and data management expert with over 25 years of experience transforming complex data landscapes into strategic business assets. Throughout his career, he has been involved in multiple advisory firms, including two that he founded, where he developed, implemented robust frameworks, and helped clients enhance data quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive operational efficiency. His comprehensive expertise spans data discovery, classification, cataloging, master data management, and privacy. He has taught Data Governance with the UAI Analytics Institute, and Data Project Management in the Information Quality Program at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Currently, he manages the growth of the advisory practice at Incept Data Solutions, leveraging his pragmatic, results-oriented approach in both advisory and implementation roles to consistently enable organizations to unlock the true potential of their data.
The e-book was sponsored, edited, and published by UAI, with contributions from a team of member collaborators and reviewers. Their involvement reflects the cooperative spirit of the UAI community. Participating organizations are acknowledged within the full publication.
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A Practical Guide for Establishing Data Governance in Utilities (member login required)
