Checking In with Energy Central Experts: Bill Meehan, Director of Electric Utility Solutions at Esri – [an Energy Central Power Perspectives™ Expert Interview]

The Energy Central Network of Experts remains the most valuable online resource where utility professionals can connect with and learn directly from thought leaders in the power sector. While we’re regularly adding new insiders to this valuable rolodex, we’re also constantly checking in with our existing trusted experts to learn what they’re working on and what they see as the latest and greatest in their fields. Today we have the pleasure of interviewing Bill Meehan, Director of Electric Utility Solutions at Esri and existing expert in the Digital Utility Community, to do just that.

In this conversation, Bill dives into the evolving role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the electric utility industry. He highlights how GIS integrates with emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and machine learning to enhance grid performance and reliability. Read on to learn from Bill the common challenges utilities face when implementing GIS solutions and shares notable success stories where GIS has significantly improved operational efficiency and resilience. Then, looking ahead, he explores future trends, emphasizing the potential of AI, machine learning, and game engine technology to revolutionize the way utilities manage and optimize their infrastructure.

This interview provides a comprehensive overview of how GIS is transforming the electric utility landscape and offers valuable insights for utilities preparing for the future. And don’t let the conversation end there: if you have follow up questions or notes for Bill, leave them in the comments below to keep the discussion going!

Matt Chester: How has GIS technology evolved over the years to support the modernization of electric utilities?

Bill Meehan: Over the last several years, we’ve moved past thinking of GIS as just a tool for creating pretty maps and printing them out. Although some people still use paper maps, GIS has become more of an integrating framework. We have various silos of information—customer systems, SCADA systems, ADMS, work management systems, and more. When making decisions, you need to look at all these systems simultaneously, which is difficult. GIS helps by contextualizing all this information in a map or geographic location, showing the connections between different data points.

The technology has evolved from standalone, client-server applications to web services. Now, we can pull real-time data from various systems—like work management and SCADA—and integrate it. This evolution has transformed GIS from a mere mapping system to an information and business intelligence system. We’ve enabled 3D representations, integrated with AI systems, and even used game engines to create realistic, live scenarios.

Imagery has become crucial, allowing us to create realistic scenes. For example, you can virtually drive around a detailed representation of Boston. We’ve also rebuilt the networking aspect, moving from the geometric network to the utility network. This allows for the concept of a digital twin. In the past, a transmission line was represented in 2D. Now, we can visualize it in 3D and bring it to life by incorporating real-time data like wind and temperature. This enables us to run “what if” scenarios, such as predicting the impact of a wildfire on the transmission line. That’s my view of how GIS has evolved to support modern electric utilities.

MC: What are the primary challenges faced by electric utilities today in managing the electric grid, and how can GIS solutions help address these issues?

BM: One of the biggest challenges we face today is climate change, which has dramatically altered our landscape. We’re experiencing unprecedented coastal flooding and temperature rises. Using the concept of a digital twin, GIS can help predict and manage these new conditions. For instance, we can use GIS to simulate and plan for flooding or extreme temperatures that we’ve never encountered before.

Additionally, new regulations from FERC now require us to consider dynamic line ratings, which depend on geographic factors like weather. GIS is crucial here because it contextualizes weather data—tornadoes, high temperatures, and other weather events—in specific locations.

Utilities have four primary objectives: cost-effectiveness, customer satisfaction, safety, and compliance. GIS helps achieve these by providing tools to optimize operations. For example, it can help decide when and where to bury power lines to prevent outages, thereby improving reliability and customer satisfaction. GIS also enhances safety by identifying and mitigating potential hazards, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements by providing accurate and up-to-date geographic data.

In summary, GIS solutions address the challenges of climate change, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and customer service by integrating and analyzing geographic data to make informed decisions.

MC: How does GIS integrate with other emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and machine learning to enhance the performance and reliability of electric grids?

BM: Integrating GIS with emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and machine learning is essential for enhancing the performance and reliability of electric grids. One of the main challenges we face is making these technologies work together seamlessly. For example, when a line falls to the ground, traditionally, we rely on schematic representations and manual inspections, which are time-consuming and less precise. GIS can use spatial analysis to provide quicker and more data-driven responses. It helps pinpoint where a fault has occurred, determines the best access points, and integrates imagery for a comprehensive view. This spatial analysis capability is vital for improving response times and efficiency.

GIS technology has evolved to be integration-friendly, allowing it to consume real-time information via web services. This means we can get live data updates rather than relying on static documents. This real-time integration is crucial for maintaining up-to-date information across systems, reducing the risk of outdated data and ensuring accurate decision-making. For example, real-time streaming systems can pull data from operational systems, providing instant updates to GIS. This allows utilities to build models that reflect current conditions and respond proactively to changes.

On the distribution side, GIS can address the increasing load from electric vehicles. Each EV has an onboard charger that converts AC to DC and, for example, if several neighbors charge their EVs simultaneously the local transformer could become overloaded. GIS can map out the distribution system, analyze potential impacts of increased EV adoption, and help utilities plan upgrades before failures occur. This analysis can include demographic data to predict future trends and ensure the electrical system can handle the growing demand.

MC: What are some common challenges utilities face when implementing GIS solutions, and how can they be overcome?

BM: One of the primary challenges utilities face when implementing GIS solutions is the siloed mentality. Often, there is a focus on replacing individual systems—such as an AMI system or a SCADA system—without considering how these components fit into the overall grid modernization effort. True grid modernization involves addressing all elements from AMI and distribution automation to transmission and generation systems.

Our job is to shift the focus from individual elements to a holistic, system-wide perspective. GIS plays a crucial role in this by connecting the dots between different technologies and systems. For example, integrating an AMI system should involve considering its relationship to communications infrastructure and the broader impacts on electric vehicles and other elements of the grid.

Another significant challenge is budgetary constraints. Utilities must balance investments in new technology against traditional infrastructure needs, such as replacing poles. Overcoming this requires demonstrating that GIS is not just about making maps but is an integrating framework that adds value across multiple systems.

Historically, utilities have combined high-tech solutions with ancient rituals and processes. The challenge is to move beyond merely automating old processes and instead take a fresh look at the entire system. This requires a cultural shift and a new way of thinking about how GIS can be leveraged to improve efficiency and performance.

MC: Could you share some notable case studies or success stories where GIS has significantly improved the efficiency or reliability of an electric utility’s operations?

BM: Sure, I can share a few examples!

PG&E has done a remarkable job with GIS. They’ve created a digital twin using GIS technology, capturing imagery of their substations and modeling them to identify potential issues. By using drones, they can spot problems in real-time and automate many of their processes.

Avista Utilities has been innovative in addressing the growth of wildfires in their service areas. Instead of reacting to wildfires as they occur, they use GIS for a comprehensive risk analysis. They identify high-risk wildfire zones and overlay this information with their electrical system to mitigate potential impacts, thus reducing the area they might need to shut down in an emergency.

Arizona Public Service (APS) has also utilized GIS to break down silos within their organization. This integrated approach improves their overall efficiency and reliability.

Internationally, Saudi Electric has been forward-thinking with renewable energy initiatives, despite the region’s association with oil. DEWA in Dubai is another example of a utility doing pioneering work with GIS and renewable energy.

For emergency management, there’s an interesting case from Oman. Despite being a region you wouldn’t typically associate with flooding, they faced a typhoon and used GIS to manage the crisis effectively.

MC: What future trends do you foresee in the application of GIS for electric utilities, and how should power companies prepare for these advancements?

BM: Looking into the future is always challenging, but several key trends are emerging in the application of GIS for electric utilities.

One significant area is the transmission system. The transmission grid didn’t evolve in a planned manner like the highway system. Instead, it grew from individual grids that were eventually connected, leading to a lack of a unified system. This has resulted in congestion issues, where renewable energy can’t be efficiently transmitted from one point to another due to bottlenecks. To address this, we need to apply GIS technology more aggressively for longer-term, interregional planning.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with GIS is another critical trend. These technologies can analyze vast amounts of imagery and data to uncover issues such as faulty insulators or heat spots  without manual field inspections. This capability will significantly enhance the capacity and resilience of the grid.

Furthermore, game engine technology, similar to what is used in video games, will become increasingly integrated with GIS. This will allow for more realistic and dynamic simulations, enabling utilities to visualize and interact with their systems in ways that were previously not possible. On top of that, wearable technology will likely play a role as well. For example, digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical systems, can be enhanced with virtual and augmented reality to allow workers to interact with an exact digital replica of a substation before performing tasks in the field. This reduces the need to translate schematic diagrams from paper to the real world, making training and operations more efficient and accurate.

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Thanks to Bill for joining me for this interview and for providing a wealth of insights and expertise to the Energy Central Community. You can trust that Bill will be available for you to reach out and connect, ask questions, and more as an Energy Central member, so be sure to make him feel welcome when you see him across the platform.

The other expert interviews that we’ve completed in this series can be read here, and if you are interested in becoming an expert, you can reach out to me or you can apply here.