CEPSI 2000Manila, Philippines

How Utilities Utilize Computer & Communications System Technologies

to Compete in Today’s Environmentby

Dr. M.L. Chan, ML Consulting Group

Background

Competitive utility environment Computer & Communications

System Technologies will greatly help utilities compete

Rationale for C&CST

Reduce capital investment with real-time data (e.g., UG cable, DMS for load leveling)

Improve customer satisfaction (service reliability & unbundled services)

Reduce O&M costs Increase revenue (value-added

services)

Operational Forces

Two forces driving C&CST Internal operations - energy

service oriented External operations - not basic

energy services

Internal Operations

Customer care operations AMR, outage detection, LM, load

survey, theft detection, tariffs AMR the enabling technology C&CST interfaces with other

systems and DBs

External Operations

Outside of normal energy services (e.g., EINS, facility monitoring, ISP, e-commerce)

Information presentment services Revenue generating

C&CST Investment Decisions

C&CST need to support both internal and external operations

Both operations create a business case for C&CST

A strategic investment decision

Interface with Other Systems

Stakes in the ground - existing systems and DBs

Functional and information flow requirements due to Internal & external operations

Internal Operations Interface Requirements

CIS, Customer Tracking System, Billing System, Business System and Load Management

AM/FM/GIS, Mobile Computing, OMS, WOMS, IVR and Call Centers

SCADA/DA/FA and Power Management

External Operations Interface Requirements

Web portals Fire, Police and Emergency Alarm

Dispatch Centers Backup to customer process

control and SCADA systems

Integration of Automation Islands

Data flow among islands critical for these internal & external operations

Technologies could include client-server architecture, object-oriented programming, XML, LAN, broadband comm., & distributed intelligence devices

Conclusions

Need C&CST to thrive in competition

Choice of technologies depends on which internal and external operations