the changing landscape of public power - location … · 2017-09-13 · the changing landscape of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Changing Landscape of Public Power- as seen through the Organization Check Up
HOMETOWN CONNECTIONS
Hometown Connections Trends Across Public Power and how Utilities
are Responding
HOMETOWN’S VALUE PROPOSITION
� Created in 1998� Owned by and working for public power� Public Power Advocate and Resource� Networking relationships with utilities, joint action
agencies and state associations� Extensive knowledge base of public power systems� Advantages on pricing and/or product packaging� Advocate in the sales & support process
Hometown Connections’ Products
Utility’s Business Planning Utility’s Operations Utility’s Retail Offering
Automated MeteringInfrastructure
Elster Electricity
SCADA Software/ServicesSurvalent Technology
Engineering, Outage Mgmt, IVR, and GIS Software Milsoft Utility Solutions
Community Web Site ServicesNeighborhood Link
Surge Protection EquipmentPanamax, TESCO,
UtiliCor
Strategic Consulting ServicesHometown Connections
Risk Management Consulting The Energy Authority
Customer/Employee ResearchSDS Research
Meter Data ManagementElectSolve
Smart Grid Energy ManagementConsert
Online Energy Audit SolutionsEnercom
Strategic Power PlacementsMycoff, Fry & Prouse
Billing and Financial SoftwareCogsdale
Cost of Service & Rates/PricingStudies
Utility Financial Services
Cyber Security SolutionsN-Dimension
HOMETOWN’S SUCCESSSince its creation in 1998� Over 800 public power utilities (small & large)
� 65% of APPA Membership � 357 utilities purchasing 2 or more products
� 15 product suites with multiple products� 21 Indirect Sales/Marketing relationships in 37 states
� 8 sales relationships covering 22 states - Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
� 15 marketing relationships covering 25 states – Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming
� Over $15 million in direct savings to public power
THE ORGANIZATION CHECK UP
WHAT IS AN ORGANIZATION CHECK UP?
Whole system approach to the utility’s operationsBringing all the pieces together to support strong
customer service
Customer
Utility
GF Services JAA State Association
ORGANIZATION CHECK UPS
16 States to date
SOME TRENDS WITHIN PUBLIC POWER
AND UTILITY RESPONSES TO THESE TRENDS
THE SMART GRID
METER DATA MANAGEMENT
Foundation upon which all other technologies are based (Billing, GIS, AMI, EA, OMS, SCADA)
Communicates across and integrates all protocols and all links
Good MDM provider will have major interfaces already done
Strongly consider starting here
AUTOMATED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE
Public Power has lagged behind IOUs and particularly coops/REAs
Wireless Mesh technology has been the most common for public powerUrban/Suburban settings with higher densitiesReading water and/or gas in addition to electric Easily scalable Self registering/self healing
OUTAGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Real time communications through smart grid have allowed OMS systems to become faster, more predictive
Vendors from a number of different disciplines moving into this space
Used in concert with AMI, SCADA and IVR, an OMS can reduce outage times and customer call-in frustrations
CYBER-SECURITY
Largely being ignored, delegated to the joint action agency
Danger is growing, examples of penetrations into U.S. electric infrastructure increasing
If you are developing any smart grid applications, cyber-security must be a critical piece of that development
Seeing more vulnerability assessments and development of cyber-security plans
A WORD ABOUT HOSTED SOLUTIONS
Hosted solutions are being developed by virtually all utility software vendors
Can offer a solution with: Little or no upfront costs Easy scalabilityGreater security Less need for advanced utility expertise
This is the future of the optimized grid
THE BRAIN DRAIN
UTILITIES HAVE BEEN THE MOST AFFECTED
The utilities industry (private and public establishments that provide electricity, natural gas, and water) has the highest proportion of baby-boomers, with almost 3 of every 5 workers between 41 and 59 years old in 2005.
Source: Congressional Research Service, “Retiring Baby-Boomers = A Labor Shortage?” Jan. 2008
THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY IS GROUND ZERO
SUCCESSION PLAN STRATEGIES
Keep the ones you’ve got!Keep them happy and healthy
Plan for the transitionKnowledge capture, prioritize tasks
Anticipate and fill the gapsOutsource, temporary, part-time, non-traditional
Build future capacity Cross-train, farm club, aggregate demand
A LARGER SHARE OF PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER IS STAYING IN OR RETURNING TO THE LABOR FORCE. THE LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE FOR OLDER WORKERS HAS BEEN RISING SINCE THE LATE 1990S.
FULL TIME WORK FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMMON AND NOW MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THIS GROUP.
STRATEGIC POWER PLACEMENTS
Addresses the “brain drain” and public power’s temporary skill set deficiencies� Interim intellectual capital matchmaker
• Matches individual with public power entity• Focused on executive team positions• Targets existing positions (bridge employment) and new tasks
(special projects)• Provides “mentoring/training” of existing staff member• Includes retired and other industry experts seeking interim
employment
� Utilities can hire contract rather than full time staff• Circumvents hiring freezes, providing benefit packages and
negotiating termination conditions
