Easing Utility Operations with Single-Pane View Insights

The utility sectors are under increased pressure to innovate and enhance operational efficiency in an era of rapid technological advancements. Utilities have been the backbone of economies for many years, especially in managing huge and complicated infrastructures such as electricity, water, and gas distribution networks. As a result, many separate teams can be found on many different software tools, which provide a fragmented operational picture. Fragmented governance can create inefficiencies, higher costs, and more extended periods between detecting problems and providing fixes. The solution to these challenges was figured in the form of a Single-Pane View (SPV) from utility operations, making it an innovative approach and a functional interface across all scopes, improving situational awareness, decision-making, and operational efficiency, as quoted earlier.

The Single Pane View in Utility Operations

All over the world, utility companies are running some of the largest and most complex networks. Those networks are critical in delivering essential services to millions of consumers daily. These networks, however, are very complex and challenging to manage because components are heterogeneous and interdependent. Historically, utility companies have depended on several software tools and systems for monitoring and controlling their operations. These tools operate in silos, none of them integrated with any others.

A utility company, for example, would use one system to monitor the electricity grid (e.g., SCADA), a second one to manage water distribution (e.g., AMR), and still another third system to track customer service requests, etc. And while each system is robust, the silos create gaps in visibility into operations. All this fragmentation begets several challenges:

Inefficiency: Operators often must switch between multiple systems to gather the necessary information, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Delayed Response: When an issue arises, the time it takes to identify, diagnose, and address the problem is extended because of the need to cross-reference data from different systems.

Inconsistent Data: Different systems may present data in various formats or timeframes, making correlating and analyzing information effectively challenging.

High Costs: Maintaining multiple systems requires significant financial investment in licensing, training, and support.

To address these challenges, utility companies increasingly turn to Single-Pane View solutions.

What is a Single-Pane View?

The answer is Single-Pane View (SPV), which provides a single interface for all data sources in one unified dashboard. The dashboard allows Operators to see in real-time everything (up, down, and both) happening across their whole utility network they need to run the operations more effectively. SPVs are about simplifying complex systems; rather than having a market participant keep track of multiple transactions and increases in overall net exposure manually, etc., the information would be painted to them for final confirmation or override.

SPV is designed using the most cutting-edge data visualization and assimilation technology available. It consumes data from various sources, including Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Customer Information Systems (CIS), and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The processed data is then brought into a user interface, frequently with dashboards that can be adjusted to meet the needs of several kinds of customers.

Single-Pane View Insights Benefits in Utility Operations

Introducing SPV in utility operations provides numerous advantages, from improved efficiency to better decision-making. Following are some of the most important benefits:

1. Situational Awareness with A Twist

Improved situational awareness is one of SPV's most significant advantages. Operators can consolidate data from various sources through this single-dashboard view to create real-time visibility across the utility network. This comprehensive view enables them to detect problems before they occur, such as equipment defects, service failures, and security issues.

For example, in the electricity grid, the SPV can show a real-time map of the whole grid and highlight spots with high demand prevention or potential overload (not necessarily malfunctioning grown equipment). Operators can drill down to specific areas, see detailed information on individual pieces of equipment, and inform decisions that might prevent or reduce the duration of an outage.

2. Improved Decision-Making

The information provided by SPV insights gives utility operators the data they require to act on decisions promptly. Traditionally, operations require an operator to manually collect data across multiple systems and provide the analysis that goes with this—it is time-consuming and error-prone. An SPV shows operators all the information gathered, making trend identification and real-time decision-making easy.

In the example of a water utility company noticing less pressure than expected at one location, this SPV could provide data about which pipelines are connected and operating on display. With this information, operators can identify the problem (for example, a leak in one of its pipelines) and send repair crews to that location so the business is not disrupted.

3. Improved Operational Efficiency

In addition, the SPV solutions also reduce overhead by minimizing instances where you must switch between multiple systems and cross-check data yourself, all adding up for immense operational efficiency. Instead of sifting through information, Operators can now have time for essential tasks like monitoring network performance, responding to customer queries, and managing field crews.

In addition, SPV solutions often include process automation features to reduce operational friction further. For example, an SPV can automatically issue alerts if certain limits are exceeded, such as a transformer station's temperature rise or gas pressure fall. These alerts allow solution operators to react to a potential issue while it is minor before it grows into something more significant.

4. Cost Savings

Using an SPV can result in considerable cost savings for utilities. This can help streamline costs by reducing the amount spent on support for separate software tools and maintenance as companies bring multiple systems under one interface. Finally, the improved efficiency and shorter decision-making time that SPV solutions allow have a cascading effect on operational costs: better uptime, fewer service disruptions, or optimized resource deployment.

For instance, a gas utility that connects an SPV to its distribution network can instantly identify breaks and outages of supply, reducing the volume of lost gas and enabling cost savings by responding quickly with support. These savings can start to add up, and over time, they amount to significant financial gains.

5. Improved Customer Service

Utility companies' emphasis is shifting toward customer service, and SPV solutions are indispensable. SPV solutions give utility companies real-time visibility into network performance and customer service requests, allowing quicker response times and more accurate customer communication.

For example, suppose an outage is reported to a PSPS operator for coverage by an SPV. In that case, the nodal leader can quickly look up information on that node, revealing why there was a loss of power and estimating how long it will take to get the service back.

6. Scalability and Flexibility

SPV offerings are highly scalable and competent for small and large utility providers. We can adapt the SPV to accommodate even a small regional network or create economies of scale via collaboration with an MNO cooperative. SCADA applications can grow with utility networks as they expand and evolve, adding new data sources—in an automated fashion—and required technologies at any time.

Furthermore, SPV solutions are typically cloud-hosted and can be viewed by utilities via a web browser from anywhere they have an internet connection. Companies with operations worldwide or field crews based in remote locations could significantly benefit from this capability, providing continuous communication and collaboration among dispersed team members.?

Essential Points to Trade-Off for Single Piece of Paned View

That said, while transparent and effective SPV solutions can provide utility companies with much-needed benefits, they should be approached cautiously. Some critical issues for utility companies to consider when using an SPV:

1. Interoperability with Integrated Data

An SPV solution is only as good as its ability to combine data streams from many different places. In practice, utility companies have dozens, if not hundreds, of legacy systems with unique data formats and protocols. Having the SPV solution inherently work with these systems also ensures a more complete and accurate view of operations.

Utility companies should cooperate closely with SPV vendors to address this limited data consumption by examining compatibility and defining tailored integration solutions. In this case, integrating systems with middleware or APIs may be required to help sync and transfer data from one system to another.

2. User Training and Adoption

An SPV solution is only as robust as its weakest part (and in most cases, that will not be the technology but rather untrained operators or end users scared to use it). Utility companies must invest in rigorous training that explains the technical aspects of equivalence with SPV and how this applies to day-to-day operations.

Also, organizations must engage crucial stakeholders when designing and subsequently customizing the SPV dashboards. This ensures the solution is custom-tailored for each team's needs and keeps user adoption up.

3. Security and Privacy of Personal Information

Cybersecurity and data privacy are becoming increasingly essential concerns as utility companies rely upon digital tools and cloud-based solutions. Mechanisms to secure the operational data that is folded up, including SPV solutions forming a single pane of glass interface, need iron curtain security to protect against cyber threats and unauthorized access.

In response, utility providers must secure their processes by engaging with SPV vendors and implementing encryption, multi-factor authentication, etc. Companies must also keep their cybersecurity policies current and regularly undergo security audits to expose potential weaknesses.

4. Customization and Scalability

Each utility company has its operational requirements, and an SPV solution that is the same size will not reflect your needs. Its discovery must be adjusted to represent the organization's specific workflows, data sources, and performance metrics.

Additionally, because utility networks expand and transform over time, the SPV solution must be scalable yet flexible enough to add new data streams or technologies for operational requirements. SPV solutions can range from simple software-based platforms to AI and IoT-ready packages that companies should be able to configure themselves.

5. Ongoing Development and Invention

The utility industry landscape is in permanent flux, with new threats and opportunities constantly arising as technology evolves. In contrast, the industry is best known for its ongoing operations, leaving utility companies in a position where they must innovate to remain relevant. Real-time insights informed by strategic SPV solutions can be vital to the process.

As the Director of Business Development at Engineered Intelligence, I aim to empower C-suite executives like you to revolutionize grid management. We do this by accelerating data-driven decision-making for power utilities. Our power system software solutions provide insights that help you minimize risk and make smarter investment decisions. Together, we can transform the power industry.