Insights from our Editorial Team

Consumers Energy is taking what it calls "measured steps" to evaluate, test and do pilot programs on the gamut of AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) technology prior to deployment, while its representatives are involved in national standards and interoperability efforts. That puts Consumers Energy into an enviable position to deploy smart meters when it's ready to select the vendors and products that suit its needs and the nature of its service territory. That makes Consumers Energy a worthy subject of attention, as its methodology could well lead to efficient use of capital, rational grid modernization, regulatory approval and customer satisfaction.

Utilities have pioneered the integration of GIS with their business systems but the sheer amount of data has slowed progress, one GIS executive argues. Fully translating data into actionable intelligence via graphical dashboards will be "transformationa," the executive said.  

The U.S. Department of Energy recently released two reports, consolidating feedback from RFIs and public meetings, with regard to utility communications needs and data access and privacy. While some of the key findings are familiar, the second of the two reports delves more deeply into state responsibilities than we've seen of late.

Twenty years ago, if a utility did something innovative, you assumed it was a large investor-owned utility. Over the last decade this assumption has faded, as co-operative and municipal utilities implement innovative solutions to address business challenges, and have delivered impressive results from their investments. Our industry might be making a similar paradigm shift with regards to regulatory concerns. Christopher Perdue spoke recently to David Johnson, chief information officer at EPB, about how his utility is dealing with innovation and regulatory concerns.