It's easy to assume - looking at industries like media, retail, and tech - that all industries have made the switch to digital technology. She pointed out though that meter installations remain a big project across Nigeria. Consumers see their utility providers as trusted advisors; this provides an opportunity for companies to help consumers make the shift towards a two-way flow of energy and information. A recent Conlog sponsored webinar highlighted insights into power usage, customer purchase patterns and detecting potential fraud. This webinar will help allay your fear of the digital unknown. The utility industry traditionally was a rather slow mover in technology adoption but is challenged to be a fast mover when it boils down to digital transformation and the adoption of specific technologies to enable the smart infrastructure, processes and data it needs to be future-proof as competition increases, customer demands change and the industry is in full flux. The opposite is true for those who delay. Their plan is to eventually ramp up production to install 20,000 a month. What does going all digital mean? With it, we can align a palette of digital capabilities to documented use cases and deliver relevant, flexible and repeatable solutions much more quickly. Utilities go Digital. The opposite is true for those who delay. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Nigeria’s original supply constraint problems were exacerbated during lockdowns mid-2020. All the same, digital capabilities allow utilities to enter new business arenas, whether alone … So how does a utility not just deploy technology and upgrade its systems, but instead embed technology and data into its DNA? Even in the best situations, with executives who fully support the digital-transformation agenda, it can take years for an entire utility—with thousands of employees, a vast asset base, and extensive regulatory requirements—to embrace the methods of digital-native businesses. So how do these online applications work SaaS providers […] More than half (54 percent) of utility providers said they plan to control their costs by requiring service providers to digitize data collection, workflows, and reporting. This means at home people receive their cable service in 2 different ways. In competitive markets, utilities can create new revenue streams by offering digital solutions, such as solar, energy-efficiency tools, or bundled home services. Fast forward to today and, while still laser-focused on reliability and affordability, the power and utilities sector appears to be morphing into an increasingl… COVID-19 UPDATE | The City is coordinating closely with our public health officials at the Santa Cruz County Health Department to prevent the further spread COVID-19.In an effort to protect you and our community, changes and measures have been adopted in daily operations and activities. Why are water utilities moving online More and more water utilities are starting to take advantage of online software applications, also known as Software as a Service (SaaS). Consider three areas: Understand and plan for the impact that “going digital” has on the operating model; Apply agile to the entire enterprise; Understand that “going digital” is … Utilities are under pressure from competitors, regulators, shareholders and their customers to improve levels of service, conservation, security and safety. Perumal said they have noticed some very ingenious fraudsters applying their minds to electricity meters: “What we’ve seen is syndicates can log into meters, clone meters, duplicate tokens and defraud the system.”, Read more:LPWA networks Supporting the next wave of smart metering, They have seen and analysed a real-time decline in revenue collected, not just with their own meters but across the board, because of this type of fraud and have thus patented Crypto Vault Technology to secure electricity meters. The views expressed in this article by the author are not necessarily those of the publishers and/or association partners. Company shutdowns, a downturn in consumption of energy, inaccessible utility offices and limits on movement all conspired to challenge how utilities worked: “Increasing debt through limited income from the services, this is pretty much what has been happening with loss of jobs in the big players and consumers of electricity. Gas and electric utilities are modernizing and digitizing to adapt to new industry changes, such as: Widespread digital transformation Innovations in contracting models Increased focus on infrastructure reliance See how advancements in project information management are helping utilities excel in the new age of information. The third is securing customer loyalty by proactively offering actionable information. Utilizing effective water utility management techniques is crucial to the efficient use of water as well as conservation efforts. In the country Conlog specifically has a current production capacity of 20,000 meters per month and installation rate of 3,000 meters per week. This then necessitates protecting the movement of the packets of data. Product Firmware Product * If your product is not listed above, please visit the product page. Most importantly, the elimination of open-current circuits and the replacement of the copper control wires minimizes exposure to high-voltage electricity and reduces the risk of damaging equipment. Business intelligence and performance metrics play a large role in creating this efficient process for water consumption, which relies on the use of digital technology to optimize operations. One utility executive Examples include electric or gas transmission and distribution and communications networks. Going Digital in UTILITIES AND INDUSTRIAL ASSET PERFORMANCE Enterprise deployments that demonstrate excellence and digital advancements in the operation, inspection, maintenance, and management of utility plants and networks, power generation facilities, oil and gas production facilities, or any other industrial site. The potential losses and gains are huge, but with concerted effort and full commitment - there's still time to close the digital gap. See how Cognizant helps. Install WD Discovery for Mac. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher and editors cannot be held responsible for any inaccurate information supplied and/or published. Utilities turn to digitalisation not just to keep up with a world stepping onto the fourth industrial revolution, but because it makes business sense. A major obstacle to industry adoption of digital substations has been the perception and fear that “going digital” exposes utility assets to cyber threats and NERC CIP standard non-conformity. WD Security for Mac. Well done to the distribution companies because we’ve seen you come up with creative manners to make your customers find their way easier to access the product and services you offer,” said Mzimba. Dec 1st, 2012 Its main goal was to keep the lights on without breaking the bank. Going Digital in UTILITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS Utilities projects that have demonstrated excellence and digital advancements in the planning, design, analysis, construction, or operations of network infrastructure. And, as Elungile Mzimba said, if people cannot move around they cannot go to offices to pay bills: “If you provide convenience through mobile apps, through web apps, you are able to give people access to a safe reliable ecosystem for them to be able to exchange cash and in doing that, the utility then manages to secure their cash.”. ✓ Why digital transformation is vital for utilities, ✓ 3 golden rules for effective digital transformation, ✓ How to implement digital transformation at your utility, Why Utilities Need Digital Transformation, Mitigate revenue threats with digitized assets, mobile field operations, and connected remote teams, Complete the form to download the white paper. BC Hydro goes digital and connects its smart grid "With Smart Grid, we are now starting to experience the benefits of a digital infrastructure. Managed services and metering insights to ensure maximum financial health for utilities in West Africa, LPWA networks Supporting the next wave of smart metering, Novel solar thermal energy storage development gets going in Europe, Five key pathways to transition to sustainable heating and cooling, ADPC organises CAP-South Asia policy dialogue on climate adaptation, Open source power grid virtualisation project launched, EDF selected to optimise UK’s largest battery site, Funding energy efficiency on the blockchain, Top 3 megatrends to shape utility investments in 2021, Smart thermostat-linked smart meters to be trialled for energy management in UK, Scottish Water embarks on £2 million solar + battery storage project, Ed’s note: What will have our attention in 2021, Spearheading sustainability – Graphene Flagship works towards European sustainability goals, New ancillary service market paves the way to a renewables-led future. Sibusiso Skosana, Commercial director at Conlog pointed out revenue collection is cash to keep the business running. The threats to utilities from digital pioneers such as Amazon, Google, or Tesla Motors are most tangible at the customer interface, where information is more important than material assets. Going Digital: Jacobs Helps Water Utilities Navigate Emergency Response Plans Submitted by Jacobs on 7th May 2020. By using our site you accept the terms of our cookie policy. A digital business uses social to interact with customers, both proactively and responsively. GoodSync for WD. Proactive efforts towards digital transformation lead to increased revenue and profits. Though far from back of the pack, utilities are among these digital stragglers. 0. views. Digital Market Outlook ... Go to database ... Utilities are also looking into offering rooftop solar installations and providing consumers with community-shared solar options. Going Digital to Improve Efficiencies Adlib enabled this integrated oil company to improve efficiencies by creating digital copies of their oil files, which needed to be stored in paper for compliance regulations. Digitally transforming utilities with ArcGIS System of record ArcGIS gives utilities a complete data model, providing ease of editing, expanding connectivity capability, and scaling to any size. Managed services form part of the Conlog 3 pillar approach to manage revenue optimisation, revenue protection and revenue collection. For example “by introducing third party vending, essentially, what you are doing is you are increasing the accessible footprint that customers have to access the buying of electricity.”. Viven Perumal, Marketing Manager at Conlog, explained a major theme of revenue optimisation is digitising the revenue architecture by moving the services online. COVID-19 UPDATE | The City is coordinating closely with our public health officials at the Santa Cruz County Health Department to prevent the further spread COVID-19.In an effort to protect you and our community, changes and measures have been adopted in … Currently over their cable system Charter sends signals both analogy and digitally. A complex and changing landscape requires unprecedented operational agility and investments in digital for the utilities industry. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. It also focussed on how easily, seamlessly and cost-effectively utilities can deliver customer services through remote digital vending, managed metering and Conlog’s cloud platform, saving utilities money and improving on customer engagement. A switch to digital can cut the quantity of copper wires in a substation by more than 80%, which is a significant cost savings. The application layout provides access to a number of useful features that are designed to take advantage of the tools and features of WD drives. Utility providers are looking for ways to increase efficiency – digitizing is a key strategy to accomplish this. Utility companies, energy transmission and distribution news. Some people have a digital cable box and the cable from Charter plugs into the box and then to the TV, this is digital. whether utilities ought to go digital. Thepower and utilities sector was traditionally where many parents or grandparents parked their savings as they got older, attracted by low volatility and stable returns. Jacobs helps water utilities navigate potential crisis by developing risk and resilience assessments and emergency preparedness plans in real-time. If you want to know more about this approach and so much more, watch the on-demand-session of Managed services and metering insights to ensure maximum financial health for utilities in West Africa online. Lance Hawkins-Dady, Conlog R&D and services manager, explained how they use the concept of managed services – the practice of outsourcing the responsibility for maintaining and anticipating the need for a range of processes and functions to improve operations – as a business principle. “The unmetered connections that we continue to have on our grid, the mass electricity theft, limited vending and payments, macro-economic challenges that continue to rise, the financial pressure that our utilities, and Discos especially, continue to experience that we continue to resolve, generally constrained grid ITO of the infrastructure challenges we have; these are the issues we continue to navigate,” explained Mzimba. © All content copyright 1997 - 2020 Clarion Energy, unless specified otherwise. CPUC : The California Public Utilities Commission regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies, in addition to authorizing video franchises. Today’s clean water agencies are looking beyond the traditional operational models based on the Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA), and are considering innovations that preserve best practices, while incorporating sustainable principles, which ultimately benefit their communities and improve their financial situations. Over the last few years, specialized online applications have transformed how utilities maintain compliance and manage their network. However, utility companies modernizing their infrastructure and acquiring new capabilities through digital solutions often undermine the importance … The expected target for this program at 2021 is to reach thirty thousand of Zambians through digital services in the utility (energy, water & sanitation) sector, of which at least 40% are women and 60% are youth (aged between 15-35 years). While solid and dependable, the sector wasn’t generally considered cutting-edge, innovative, or exciting by any stretch of the word. And all for less money, of course. The WD Drive Utilities application is an overall management application for owners of newer Western Digital external drives. The second is using advanced analytics to process customer data and make interactions personal. This site uses cookies which are essential to make the site function effectively. The “Utility of the Future (UOTF)” concept is defined by clean water utility leaders pioneering innovative technologies and cutting-edge practices, with a focus on resource recovery, efficiency and s… “Expansion of the plant is currently our biggest discussion… and to make sure that we create jobs, we produce more meters, we localise more technology and we continue to mature and grow more talent in the country,” said Mzimba. Without that meaningful interaction, social is pointless. FREMONT, CA: Electric utility companies are dependent on field service experts and workers to deliver uninterrupted services. They have created 760 direct and indirect jobs as part of their contract with Nigeria’s MAP programme to install 420,000 meters. Proactive efforts towards digital transformation lead to increased revenue and profits. According to the PwC paper, utilities can accomplish their customer engagement goals through three key strategies. For further details please visit the City’s Response to COVID-19 site. News Releases. The potential losses and gains are huge, but with concerted effort and full commitment - there's still time to close the digital gap. Dec 3, 2020. Elungile Mzimba, general manager Conlog Nigeria, set the scene by describing how COVID-19 induced lockdowns have forced utilities to concentrate on extensive process reviews. Oracle's palette of digital capabilities for Utilities Unique to Oracle, design pattern thinking is a far more effective approach to building digital architectures. WD Drive Utilities for Mac. Electric utility companies today have the scope to enhance the quality of field services by digitally empowering the field workers. Much more data is available, and with Cisco’s new network and analytics solutions, we are … Going digital Utilities turn to digitalisation not just to keep up with a world stepping onto the fourth industrial revolution, but because it makes business sense. Residential Trash Services. ... China's 5G networks go online for as low as $18, as the race for 5G heats up. However, those industries are only a small slice of the pie, and when it comes to digital transformation - most industries have fallen behind. Most investment in new energy technologies is coming from outside the utilities sector, including venture capital that is flowing into digital-native, new energy start-ups, particularly in electrification (including development of smart-charging and vehicle-to-grid systems), decentralization (including microgrids and renewable generations), and digitalization (including energy management, customer information … Image credit: Stock. Digital utilities front-runners. Going Digital: Preserving Institutional Knowledge and Securing the Future The Northern Gila County Sanitary District uses GIS to improve utility operations and preserve institutional knowledge for the next generation of operators. Conlog: Utilities going digital means better customer engagement. ... Digital Products. THE CHALLENGE An integrated oil company was looking to replace their current process of storing oil “Creative ways had to be found. ... By helping you build a Digital Business. Though far from back of the pack, utilities are among these digital stragglers. The Oracle Utilities “Digital Self Service” platform, used by over 100 utilities ranging from large IOUs to small munis and co-ops, is built on “pillars” that echo the P… Acronis True Image for Western Digital. One is simplifying utility-customer interactions. As digitally-enabled, behind-the-meter energy generation increasingly impacts utility company operations, effective two-way communication with customers will assume added importance. The PwC paper, utilities are also looking into offering rooftop solar installations and providing consumers with community-shared options. 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