Checking In with Energy Central Expert: Pat Hohl, Director for Electric Industry Solutions at Esri

As utilities grapple with rapid digital transformation, shifting workforce demographics, and the pressure to modernize grid operations, the role of geospatial intelligence has never been more central. Few leaders understand that convergence of technology, people, and process as well as Pat Hohl, Director of Electric Industry Solutions at Esri. And that’s why we’re always so thrilled at Energy Central to have him on board as one of our go-to Experts.

In this “Checking In” conversation, Pat shares his perspective on how mobile GIS tools are reshaping utility culture and attracting a new generation of digital-native workers. He explores how geospatial intelligence is redefining control rooms, strengthening grid resilience, and powering the next era of distributed, decarbonized, and data-driven energy systems. From AI-enabled risk prediction to geospatial digital twins, Pat paints a compelling vision for how utilities can harness GIS not just as a technology, but as the foundation for a more connected, collaborative, and future-ready enterprise.

Keep reading to dive deep into these critical topics with Pat!

Matt Chester: Utilities are facing an aging workforce and a surge of younger, tech-savvy employees. How do you see mobile GIS tools and modern apps changing the way this new generation engages with utility operations, and what cultural or organizational shifts are needed to maximize that potential?

Pat Hohl: The utility industry faces a hiring challenge because the digital-native workforce views it as being stuck in the past. Newer employees grew up with iPads and smartphones - they expect to do everything on a mobile device or online. They want AI support for their work. If we hand them clipboards for a job, we lose them immediately.

The beauty of mobile GIS is that it gives people the right information, at just the right time, on the right device. As a result, field and office staff see the same authoritative data, and we’re not reconciling spreadsheets.

But making that shift isn’t just about using an app; it’s about changing the culture. GIS has become a platform that everyone uses, not a specialty discipline hidden in the corner of the mapping division. Every user is a sensor and contributes to quality data.

Veterans share their knowledge, newer employees engage, and managers leverage digital workflows to see things in real-time on informative dashboards.

MC: The vision of a “next-generation control room” is evolving rapidly with real-time data, automation, and AI. From your perspective, what are the most transformative applications of geospatial intelligence in control rooms today, and what will they look like in 5–10 years?

PH: AI is changing every single day. Ten years is quite a long time on the AI horizon – I’m confident that in that time, we’ll see agent-to-agent AI doing things that today seem like Star Trek.

The traditional control room, characterized by one-line diagrams and ringing phones, is obsolete. Modern control rooms require geospatial intelligence that integrates real-time sensor data, weather information, and crew locations into a unified operational picture. ArcGIS enables utilities to visualize risks, outages, damages, crews, and materials on any device. By layering machine-learning models, utilities proactively identify potential hazards before they escalate. The integration of IT and OT data ensures that operators are not "flying blind."

Looking ahead to the next five to ten years, control rooms will feature digital twins of the grid – comprehensive 3D-capable models that reflect historical, current, and future states. AI-driven recommendations will optimize safety, switching operations, DER dispatch, and microgrid islanding in near real-time. Operators will visualize live load flows superimposed on maps of robust and extensive network models. Utilities that fail to establish this foundation risk being left behind.

MC: Utilities are under increasing pressure to modernize network management, especially as extreme weather events test grid resilience. How can GIS and spatial analytics help utilities not just respond to crises, but proactively model and strengthen their networks against future disruptions?

PH: Utilities that still rely on simple network models and spreadsheets are managing 21st-century grids with dated tools. Location-specific business intelligence is the key differentiator. Geographic tools significantly improve asset management by providing insightful representations of performance, risk, resources, and associated costs. By leveraging AI and machine learning, utilities visualize vulnerabilities and predict potential problems. The ArcGIS Utility Network provides a comprehensive digital twin of the grid, while robust analysis enables wide-ranging planning and risk identification.

With this capability, utilities simulate the impact of load growth from electric vehicles and heat pumps, plan system reinforcement projects, and prioritize system hardening before severe weather events.

During events, real-time data capture, imagery analysis, and situational awareness provide proactive insights directly within the Microsoft business environments where their staff are actually spending their time. This is a game-changer for rapid communication and collaboration, particularly in emergencies.

MC: Given your background spanning utility engineering, operations, and executive management, what advice would you give utility leaders trying to bridge the gap between strategic goals and the practical deployment of technologies like GIS, AI, and automation?

PH: Throughout my career, a consistent lesson has emerged: technology is not an addition to strategy, but rather an integral part of it. GIS connects IT systems to the operational state of the network, securely integrates external data, simplifies data collection, and unifies field and office staff. It also fosters tremendous cross-departmental communication and collaboration.

To maximize the benefits of technology, utilities start by identifying key business concerns – such as aging infrastructure, wildfire risk, or load growth – and develop their technology plans accordingly. Investing in data quality and governance is essential before pursuing AI initiatives.

Building cross-functional teams helps facilitate collaborative problem-solving among engineers, operators, and IT professionals. Technology is not an end unto itself - outcomes must be the measure of success. Digital transformation is not about replicating existing processes on new platforms; it's about changing behaviors and culture to unlock the actual value of technology and automation.

MC: As utilities move toward a more distributed, decarbonized, and digital grid, where do you see GIS playing the most critical role in helping utilities reimagine their business models and maintain reliability for customers?

PH: The electric utility industry is at a crossroads, facing changes across multiple dimensions. Load growth, increasing demand for renewables, aging infrastructure, and workforce turnover are all significant challenges. GIS serves as the glue that holds the future together. I think of it this way – today, GIS integrates everything, everywhere!

It optimizes asset management, provides network awareness on any device, and uses analytics to highlight vulnerabilities. Geospatial digital twins offer a time-aware, scalable model of the network, enabling utilities to plan the placement of community solar, microgrids, and EV chargers, balance load in real-time, and design rates that reflect locational value. Moreover, location-based data facilitates effective customer communication regarding outages and conservation efforts, improving overall satisfaction.

In essence, GIS is indispensable for operating a decarbonized, distributed, digital grid. By leveraging GIS, utilities can reinvent their business models while maintaining reliable service.