Digital Digest: Monthly Digest of Insights Shared by Your Peers in the Energy Central Intelligent Utility Network – April 15, 2022

Welcome to the Intelligent Utility Network roundup, Digital Digest. As always, your fellow network members are paying close attention to digital utility and mobile workforce trends and sharing their insights. This month’s selection includes information about the importance of data management for renewables success, critical steps toward electrification, and more. Be sure to like and comment on your favorite posts. Happy reading!

The Biggest Obstacle to Your Renewable Strategy? Your Data

Jaime Crawford

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/%E2%80%9C-biggest-obstacle-your-renewable-strategy-your-data%E2%80%9D

Location data is critical to the success of utility renewables programs, but many utilities face data problems that could undermine their efforts. In this article, new Energy Central member Jaime Crawford, Senior Vice President, Strategic Industries at Locana outlines some of those problems. They include data that is siloed, inaccurate, non-inclusive of external information, not granular enough, or not widely distributed enough. Another issue is GIS systems that are too complex for most operators to use. To address these issues, Jaime recommends a more strategic approach.

Pop Quiz — What Happened on October 19, 1973

Bill Meehan

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/o/esri/pop-quiz-%E2%80%93-what-happened-october-19-1973

In this post, Bill Meehan, Director, Utility Solutions at Esri reminds readers that the term “the energy crisis” was coined on October 19, 1973, yet the U.S. is still at the mercy of forces outside its control regarding energy availability. He suggests that this problem, in conjunction with the climate crisis, can be most quickly addressed through electrification, and offers several recommendations for action. They include understanding the scope of the challenge, accelerating the rollout of EV charging stations, hastening the move to heat pumps, encouraging ground-source geothermal utilities, and fast-tracking electric transmission construction.

In a Digital World, Remaining a Dinosaur Will Be Costly, According to a New Report.

Christopher Neely

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/digital-transformation-key-asset-management

As the provision of energy includes an increasing number of renewables, microgrids, and DERs, the digital transformation that powers them is becoming more important. Yet, according to a new report, many utilities are slow to pursue it. In this piece, Christopher Neely, journalist at an independent local news organization emphasizes the critical nature of digital elements in transmission and distribution that could save the sector billions of dollars per year. To address this issue, he urges utilities to develop a plan to create long-term digital shifts.

Technological Developments Can Help California Achieve Emissions Goals

Todd Carney

Link to original article: https://energycentral.com/c/iu/technological-developments-can-help-california-achieve-emissions-goals

Here, Todd Carney, freelance writer explores the use of battery technology in California to help meet its goal of reaching Net Zero by 2045. He notes that major utilities like SDG&E, PG&E, and SoCal Edison are creating energy storage facilities, large enough to power entire neighborhoods, which can support the use of alternative energy such as solar and wind. The expense to run these units is high but many hope that costs will continue to fall as more utilities invest in this technology.

Thanks again for reading this edition of Digital Digest! The authors listed above are eager to hear your thoughts and questions, so don’t hesitate to engage them. And if you want your content to be featured in this spot in future issues, be sure to publish your posts within the Digital Utility or Mobile Workforce Community.

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