It’s no secret global weather patterns are changing dramatically with larger, more violent, and further reaching storms of all types and in all seasons slamming communities more frequently and randomly. On top of this, calamities such as earthquakes, terrorist attacks and fires can strike with any degree of ferocity and very often without warning. A service provider must have a reliable, lightning-fast response in place to contain damage and restore service, safety, and stability as efficiently as possible to the people and neighborhoods it serves. Add to this financial penalties and diminished user confidence in their provider for underperformance surrounding a service outage and it’s easy to see why utilities are desperate for new solutions to help weather any storm.
Recently, several utilities got together in a project through the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Outage Mitigation and Recovery (OMR) program to develop a new software tool to aid in their resource allocation and mutual assistance activities during recovery from major outages, as may be caused by natural and man-made disasters. The new tool was to be designed to operate in conjunction with major commercial outage management systems to add significant new functionality not available in these existing systems.
“The utility sponsors had a strong interest in participation in the project as each had in the past experienced the serious impact of large storms, high winds, heavy ice, oppressive heat or other calamities on their ability to provide electric service to their customers. They clearly knew the urgency and other issues involved in rapid recovery from major power system outages,” states Frank Goodman, Technical Leader Distribution Systems for EPRI. EPRI and the utility participants provided ongoing input and review during the development of the software tool.
“We all understood that without developing the proper data base and systems to be better prepared, including ‘what if ’ planning, we would continue to throw millions of dollars at each outage event”, says Ed Kamerer, General Manager Energy Services at Con Edison of N.Y. and past Chairperson of the group. “We also realized the end product has to be affordable.” Bruce Cornew, Manager Emergency Preparedness at Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) and current Chairperson of the group puts it this way, “Providing more accurate restoration estimates is the number one customer satisfaction issue in our industry. This technology has to encompass the best of all features to address preparedness and response to any outage situation whatever the cause. Also, the data in a user’s existing Outage Management System (OMS) must be further extrapolated to better predict when a customer or group of customers would have service restored following a major incident.”
EPRI Selected LeT Systems as contractor to develop the software module under a cost sharing arrangement. LeT is a world leader in the design, development, and deployment of mission critical eBusiness based, real-time outage, network and workforce management solutions for the utility sector.
The new tool was subsequently named emPower which will be further developed, tested and deployed as part of LeT’s eRespond OMS package. “I have worked very closely with LeT to offer my expertise in service restoration and am very pleased with their technical capabilities, solid reputation in the industry, and customer oriented approach to the project,” remarks Bill Harper, Elkhorn Center Manager for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) and Utility Advisor to the EPRI project.
The high profile of the project quickly brought interest from service providers and LeT is currently integrating the new emPower module as part of the OMS installation at a leading utility. Iain Ritchie, Senior VP and Head of North American Operations for LeT explains, “Its very rare a company in our business has such ideal system parameters going into product development and to be endorsed by such a distinguished group of industry leaders is outstanding. These advances in technology will give our users a definite advantage in restoration forecasting and incident recovery well into the future.”
Imagine a disaster, natural or otherwise, has decimated hundreds of square miles of service territory leaving thousands of people without energy and “in the dark”. The affected utility has to act fast and with the utmost efficiency to inform customers and restore power as quickly as possible but the very magnitude of the destruction has taxed the utility’s physical resources beyond its limits.
The emPower Solution
The software is a real-time, stand-alone, webbased program built around advanced programmed intelligence and robust algorithms that can be easily and cleanly interfaced as an overlay with a user’s embedded OMS. The added functionality not only eliminates the high costs of replacing client server and mainframe applications installations but also extends the economic life of any existing in-house OMS. In the case where two or more utilities with disparate software packages are united through merger the new module can act as an integrator to keep all systems productive.
Disaster and emergency recovery is rapidly becoming as crucial to the industry as the most important function of any real-time operations management system and preparedness is key. This is where the use of the emPower advanced programmed intelligence comes into play by analyzing the costs and benefits of a variety of “what if ” scenarios to most effectively acquire and deploy resources to address the operational objectives. This powerful tool also stores all activity for replay so utilities can re-visit the “scene” which allows storm personnel the ability to learn and practice under the many scenarios and conditions and dramatically minimize the potential for costly mistakes that could arise from “on the job” training during actual incidents. It also means post storm analyses can be carried out with the utmost attention to detail. The emPower procedures build confidence among control room operators and field service crews which can aid significantly in split-second decision-making.
From the get-go, the need for information about the extent of damage and what’s being done about it will be simultaneously coming in from every direction and from different sources. Total restoration planning comprises the ability to provide groups of customers with the most accurate range of times they are planned to be restored and is often based on priority with the most urgent being attended to first. This could range from security and public safety to critical care such as hospitals, crucial public utilities to extended care facilities to the largest single group per specific repair and so on until the last customer is re-energized. Following basic management and business rules with the help of emPower will make an enormous difference to mutual aid management where help from neighboring utilities and contractors is identified. By referencing the external resource coordinator within emPower, the utility can start immediately releasing accurate data to the outside and begin making informed decisions about external help requirements based on cost and desired restoration times.
Within hours, the entire complexion and personality of the event can change as dozens of field crews, repair vehicles, outside contractors, equipment suppliers along with police/medical/emergency assistance, and on-site support services start arriving at the location. emPower provides extensive procedural and logistical support needed to successfully integrate the foreign crews and equipment including lodgings, meals and transport. As resources are put in place the system automatically assigns tasks and schedules them in accordance with defined restoration goals and priorities. Incoming field crews can log directly into the system with their mobile data devices through the Web browser and be brought immediately up to speed with real-time status reports and identification of duties including on-board equipment needs, special skills requirements, and job locations and priorities. Through the unique features of the software the move forward is significantly smoothed out so the utility’s Storm Manager can go about the business of better caring for customers.
No matter the size of a restoration, communications management is a highly important but labor-intensive and exacting task for an operator. In response, emPower tracks all activities and generates proper reports for internal and external agencies including, amongst others, utility management, police, emergency medical, media, customers, stakeholders, and government departments.
In the event security becomes an issue during an outage, utilities now have real-time assistance. Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) can be established to connect with local emergency services, law enforcement, and other key municipal, provincial, state, and/or federal agencies that can log directly into the EOC Liaison area and access updated requests made by the utility. This includes auto-scheduling to assist the relative agencies in deployment of their own specific resources. Reciprocally, it allows the EOC to notify the utility of security and public safety concerns such as roadblocks, collapsed buildings, toxic buildups, fire and flood potential etc., all of which can be plotted to map displays for a “bird’s eye view” of the service territory. As sectors become secured, the information is relayed to the EOC so operators can track progress right on their computer screens. With regards the many coinciding events taking place during an outage, operatives can record and replay any activity to help in decision-making anywhere within the affected zones.
As an adjunct, emPower earmarks and manages all logistics amongst the huge volumes of data being generated daily during a restoration project and its operations log facility tracks and records all major communications between the EOC and the utility for future reference. To assist utility personnel in carrying out important security-related, but infrequently practiced, Emergency Operating Procedures, a checklist of activities is provided to ensure the utility’s emergency response plan is followed by all personnel. This is instrumental in reducing the possibility for errors due to poor or misunderstood communication or oversight. The utility is also provided with a complete log of the key activities and decisions that were made throughout the restoration process.
Cornew continues, “I have been very impressed with how quickly the LeT people learned the complexities of utility operations during storm events and provided innovative approaches to meeting the needs of utilities.”
Restoration following major outages will continue to place enormous demands on utility operations. emPower manages new components of the restoration process and utilizes the internet so effectively users from upper management to the repair truck, from virtually any location, can truly maximize time and efforts to get the lights back on. Being informed and better prepared for the worst provides the foundation for more competent, effective and quicker restoration efforts in the future.
About the Author
"Prepared by Terry Wildman with Iain Ritchie, Senior VP and Head of North American Operations for LeT Systems. Mr Ritchie has a M.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Information Technology from Glasgow University where he is also completing his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence.
Recently, several utilities got together in a project through the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Outage Mitigation and Recovery (OMR) program to develop a new software tool to aid in their resource allocation and mutual assistance activities during recovery from major outages, as may be caused by natural and man-made disasters. The new tool was to be designed to operate in conjunction with major commercial outage management systems to add significant new functionality not available in these existing systems.
“The utility sponsors had a strong interest in participation in the project as each had in the past experienced the serious impact of large storms, high winds, heavy ice, oppressive heat or other calamities on their ability to provide electric service to their customers. They clearly knew the urgency and other issues involved in rapid recovery from major power system outages,” states Frank Goodman, Technical Leader Distribution Systems for EPRI. EPRI and the utility participants provided ongoing input and review during the development of the software tool.
“We all understood that without developing the proper data base and systems to be better prepared, including ‘what if ’ planning, we would continue to throw millions of dollars at each outage event”, says Ed Kamerer, General Manager Energy Services at Con Edison of N.Y. and past Chairperson of the group. “We also realized the end product has to be affordable.” Bruce Cornew, Manager Emergency Preparedness at Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) and current Chairperson of the group puts it this way, “Providing more accurate restoration estimates is the number one customer satisfaction issue in our industry. This technology has to encompass the best of all features to address preparedness and response to any outage situation whatever the cause. Also, the data in a user’s existing Outage Management System (OMS) must be further extrapolated to better predict when a customer or group of customers would have service restored following a major incident.”
EPRI Selected LeT Systems as contractor to develop the software module under a cost sharing arrangement. LeT is a world leader in the design, development, and deployment of mission critical eBusiness based, real-time outage, network and workforce management solutions for the utility sector.
The new tool was subsequently named emPower which will be further developed, tested and deployed as part of LeT’s eRespond OMS package. “I have worked very closely with LeT to offer my expertise in service restoration and am very pleased with their technical capabilities, solid reputation in the industry, and customer oriented approach to the project,” remarks Bill Harper, Elkhorn Center Manager for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) and Utility Advisor to the EPRI project.
The high profile of the project quickly brought interest from service providers and LeT is currently integrating the new emPower module as part of the OMS installation at a leading utility. Iain Ritchie, Senior VP and Head of North American Operations for LeT explains, “Its very rare a company in our business has such ideal system parameters going into product development and to be endorsed by such a distinguished group of industry leaders is outstanding. These advances in technology will give our users a definite advantage in restoration forecasting and incident recovery well into the future.”
Imagine a disaster, natural or otherwise, has decimated hundreds of square miles of service territory leaving thousands of people without energy and “in the dark”. The affected utility has to act fast and with the utmost efficiency to inform customers and restore power as quickly as possible but the very magnitude of the destruction has taxed the utility’s physical resources beyond its limits.
The emPower Solution
The software is a real-time, stand-alone, webbased program built around advanced programmed intelligence and robust algorithms that can be easily and cleanly interfaced as an overlay with a user’s embedded OMS. The added functionality not only eliminates the high costs of replacing client server and mainframe applications installations but also extends the economic life of any existing in-house OMS. In the case where two or more utilities with disparate software packages are united through merger the new module can act as an integrator to keep all systems productive.
Disaster and emergency recovery is rapidly becoming as crucial to the industry as the most important function of any real-time operations management system and preparedness is key. This is where the use of the emPower advanced programmed intelligence comes into play by analyzing the costs and benefits of a variety of “what if ” scenarios to most effectively acquire and deploy resources to address the operational objectives. This powerful tool also stores all activity for replay so utilities can re-visit the “scene” which allows storm personnel the ability to learn and practice under the many scenarios and conditions and dramatically minimize the potential for costly mistakes that could arise from “on the job” training during actual incidents. It also means post storm analyses can be carried out with the utmost attention to detail. The emPower procedures build confidence among control room operators and field service crews which can aid significantly in split-second decision-making.
From the get-go, the need for information about the extent of damage and what’s being done about it will be simultaneously coming in from every direction and from different sources. Total restoration planning comprises the ability to provide groups of customers with the most accurate range of times they are planned to be restored and is often based on priority with the most urgent being attended to first. This could range from security and public safety to critical care such as hospitals, crucial public utilities to extended care facilities to the largest single group per specific repair and so on until the last customer is re-energized. Following basic management and business rules with the help of emPower will make an enormous difference to mutual aid management where help from neighboring utilities and contractors is identified. By referencing the external resource coordinator within emPower, the utility can start immediately releasing accurate data to the outside and begin making informed decisions about external help requirements based on cost and desired restoration times.
Within hours, the entire complexion and personality of the event can change as dozens of field crews, repair vehicles, outside contractors, equipment suppliers along with police/medical/emergency assistance, and on-site support services start arriving at the location. emPower provides extensive procedural and logistical support needed to successfully integrate the foreign crews and equipment including lodgings, meals and transport. As resources are put in place the system automatically assigns tasks and schedules them in accordance with defined restoration goals and priorities. Incoming field crews can log directly into the system with their mobile data devices through the Web browser and be brought immediately up to speed with real-time status reports and identification of duties including on-board equipment needs, special skills requirements, and job locations and priorities. Through the unique features of the software the move forward is significantly smoothed out so the utility’s Storm Manager can go about the business of better caring for customers.
No matter the size of a restoration, communications management is a highly important but labor-intensive and exacting task for an operator. In response, emPower tracks all activities and generates proper reports for internal and external agencies including, amongst others, utility management, police, emergency medical, media, customers, stakeholders, and government departments.
In the event security becomes an issue during an outage, utilities now have real-time assistance. Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) can be established to connect with local emergency services, law enforcement, and other key municipal, provincial, state, and/or federal agencies that can log directly into the EOC Liaison area and access updated requests made by the utility. This includes auto-scheduling to assist the relative agencies in deployment of their own specific resources. Reciprocally, it allows the EOC to notify the utility of security and public safety concerns such as roadblocks, collapsed buildings, toxic buildups, fire and flood potential etc., all of which can be plotted to map displays for a “bird’s eye view” of the service territory. As sectors become secured, the information is relayed to the EOC so operators can track progress right on their computer screens. With regards the many coinciding events taking place during an outage, operatives can record and replay any activity to help in decision-making anywhere within the affected zones.
As an adjunct, emPower earmarks and manages all logistics amongst the huge volumes of data being generated daily during a restoration project and its operations log facility tracks and records all major communications between the EOC and the utility for future reference. To assist utility personnel in carrying out important security-related, but infrequently practiced, Emergency Operating Procedures, a checklist of activities is provided to ensure the utility’s emergency response plan is followed by all personnel. This is instrumental in reducing the possibility for errors due to poor or misunderstood communication or oversight. The utility is also provided with a complete log of the key activities and decisions that were made throughout the restoration process.
Cornew continues, “I have been very impressed with how quickly the LeT people learned the complexities of utility operations during storm events and provided innovative approaches to meeting the needs of utilities.”
Restoration following major outages will continue to place enormous demands on utility operations. emPower manages new components of the restoration process and utilizes the internet so effectively users from upper management to the repair truck, from virtually any location, can truly maximize time and efforts to get the lights back on. Being informed and better prepared for the worst provides the foundation for more competent, effective and quicker restoration efforts in the future.
About the Author
"Prepared by Terry Wildman with Iain Ritchie, Senior VP and Head of North American Operations for LeT Systems. Mr Ritchie has a M.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Information Technology from Glasgow University where he is also completing his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence.
