Strategy

With a spotlight on analytics and DER, it’s important to remember that advanced analytics capabilities in support of optimal operation of centralized generating facilities and the Bulk Electric System (BES) connecting them are vital areas of recent utility…

Major advanced analytics strategic considerations are involved in a utility's decision to replace a core legacy system, such as a Customer Information System. In contrast, a more tactical "quick win" approach can fit advanced analytics projects of narrow…

The phrase "all other things being equal" has been a simplifying assumption frequently employed in many situations. But in the data-driven world in which utilities now operate, this common phrase should be viewed with increased skepticism, including decision-making…

Some of the keys to optimizing outcomes of an advanced analytics project appear directly associated with how utility personnel define project “success” and how they frame any obstacles they encounter along the way. A theme during several Q&A…

A February 2018 Pacific Northwest National Labs (PNNL) white paper provides helpful perspective on factors to consider when utilities evaluate the economics of distributed generation (DG) and associated analytics challenges. Source:  "Distributed Generation Valuation and Compensation."  Page 35…

Won’t next-generation advanced analytics infrastructure have to be at least as reliable as the grid it will be supporting? What advanced analytics infrastructure will be required to enable reliable, full-scale deployments of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in the…

Do we need to teach data scientists to be better communicators, or improve the data science literacy of their audience, or both? In recent years, advanced analytics has been making a lot of Operations functions more efficient at…

Benchmarks dispel the notion that utilities are “behind” other industries generally, when it comes to advanced analytics job trends for utilities vs. U.S. industries as a whole. Let’s unpack some of the BLS, BEA, Salesforce, and LinkedIn data…

How are utility regulatory models evolving, and what role will analytics have to play in this new world? Advanced analytics tools being adopted by leading utilities are not only facilitating uptake of new technologies such as IoT devices—they…