Checking In with Energy Central Expert: Tom Helmer, Executive Solution Architect at UDC [an Energy Central Power Perspectives Expert Interview]

Let’s dive in.

Matt Chester: GIS has long been a critical tool for utilities, but how has its role changed with the rise of ADMS, DERs, and real-time operational awareness?

Tom Helmer: We recommend our utility clients leverage their investment in enterprise GIS as a data marshalling tool for all their operational systems, including ADMS, DERMS, phasor measurement units (PMUs), in-line sensors, and AMI/MDMS. GIS empowers these tools to perform optimally, compiling and correlating all the real-time operational data they generate for a complete picture of the operational distribution grid. This integrated data can, in turn, power event-driven operational awareness dashboards, which can be harnessed to support all levels of the organization – ranging from the operations center to utility executives as well as external customers and stakeholders, such as news reporters and municipality leaders. By adopting this approach, utilities can establish a single source of truth that aggregates the data from different geographic operational areas to support the various stakeholders’ views.

MC: You’ve previously highlighted the need for a unified digital portfolio in utilities. How do you see utilities evolving in their approach to enterprise GIS and digital transformation?

TH: I’m seeing that more utilities are treating GIS as an enterprise asset and are upgrading it to the cloud in parallel with their mobile workforce management (MWM) system or enterprise asset management system upgrades. From a digital transformation perspective, this includes all the digital design and construction workflows, such as:

• Engineering and design using graphical work design (GWD) tools integrated with GIS for posting approved designs and sending those digital designs to the field
• Field construction crews using digital construction management (DCM) tools integrated with MWM, mobile GIS, and mobile content management for all unstructured data in the field, the GIS for digital posting of partial as-builts, and the ADMS for digitally updating energized sections of the design as they come online
• DCM with GIS for completed final as-builts
• DCM with EAM for as-built work order completion details, such as labor and material
• DCM with enterprise content management (ECM) to store unstructured information collected on the job to provide the utility with a complete traceable, verifiable, and complete (TVC) view of all new construction work by having the correct information stored in Enterprise GIS, EAM, and ECM

As part of their evolving approach to becoming an enterprise GIS, utilities are looking to increase the reach of GIS technology within their lines of business. Our approach is not to replace their existing business systems, but to integrate with them in order to maximize the value of their digital investments. Most utility-related lines of business can improve their work planning through GIS and can report on the daily progress of all planned work using GIS dashboards. Enterprise GIS can also easily communicate information between the field and back-office.

The last use of enterprise GIS is a bit more complicated. Rather than a GIS web application, GIS data, or GIS integrations, a line of business may benefit from having its own copy of the complete enterprise GIS platform stack, but without the replication of any asset data from the enterprise GIS. An example of this use case is the gas operations center deploying a new GIS based gas OMS or a new gas incident command center with threat analysis.

MC: What emerging technologies—such as AI, IoT, or cloud computing—do you see having the greatest impact on utility operations over the next 5-10 years?

TH: I see the integration of all three you mentioned, along with a drone imagery data collection process that uses AI/ML in the cloud to generate abnormal operating conditions (AOCs) for the utility to remediate. These imagery AI/ML assessments can include asset condition assessments, missing assets, encroachments in transmission lines rights-of-way (ROW), verification of transmission line clearances, pole loading analysis (PLA), assets whose surroundings have changed their fire risk scores, compliance of vegetation management within transmission line corridors, and, if one  swaps out the flying sensor from a camera to a laser or other methane detection sensor, gas leak surveys that generate possible gas leaks for remediation. 

The automation and integration of digital data collection in the field with intelligent AI/ML systems can help with detecting anomalies and generating the appropriate corrective works orders. These work orders can programmatically update the system of records (SORs) that manage subsets of the field assets’ attribution as well as update the operational systems (OT). This approach could support the goal of dynamically rerating transmission lines, allowing them to remain in service at a lower capacity.

MC: What advice would you give utility leaders who are hesitant to embrace digital transformation, given the increasing complexity of grid operations?

TH: The information age is upon us. The vast amount of digital data being generated inside of substations, along feeders, at fast charging stations, and by AMI meters and other edge devices cannot be effectively processed by humans without the aid of model-driven operational systems. These systems are updated by a digital design to as-built process (see answer to #2), providing ‘zero data latency’ for the ADMS’ central brain and the AI/ML driven asset management systems. This process enables the systems to continuously harvest the historical data generated by the computers, correlating it with network- connected assets and weather events to manage and support the electrification of the power grid.

MC: What has been your experience connecting with peers on Energy Central and what advice do you have to newer members who want to get the most out of their time on the platform?

TH: I’ve used Energy Central more as an information resource rather than a networking resource, having been fortunate to have worked with experts in their field at utilities and in our consulting community. I’ve even been fortunate enough to have worked for clients who have handpicked their team of experts (their dream team) to help guide them and act as their trusted advisors. I would advise newer members to read the Energy Central blogs, engage with the community by posting questions, and submit their own blog topics.

MC: What’s your final message you want to leave our readers with? 

TH: This may be more of an elaboration on what we were talking about earlier, but utilities should realize that the new era of thousands of computers (IEDs) on the grid and at the edge of the grid pose not just a power engineering problem but a true systems engineering problem. This requires solutions to ensure all the computers are fully utilized and that the data they continuously generate is used to operate the grid efficiently and safely, increase the grid’s green energy dispatching capabilities, improve grid reliability, and better manage individual assets and subsections of the grid as foundational linear assets.

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Thanks to Tom for joining me for this interview and providing a wealth of insights and expertise to the Energy Central Community. Tom continues to be available for you to reach out and connect and ask questions, so take advantage of his presence as a long-standing Expert in our community!

Other expert interviews in this series can be read here, and if you are interested in becoming an expert, you can reach out to me or apply here.