Smart Grid Assessment Profile (S-GAP)

Over the next decade, more than a thousand electric utilities in the United States will invest in smart grid infrastructure elements, including Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technologies to support time-of-use pricing, home energy displays, and direct load control devices all in an effort to reduce the peak load, save energy, and increase reliability.
 
As utilities update and transform towards these "smart" systems, utilities must commit to a variety of solutions that will serve as their foundation for many years to come.  A smart grid roadmap based on supportable and verifiable analytics should be the foundation of a smart grid business case. 
 
The roadmap and business case both begin with understanding where the utility is today, establishing a vision of the future, and creating a realistic and attainable path to reach the desired future state.   The business case must take into consideration many components:

• The incremental capital and expenses associated with the new technology
• The expenses to create new business processes to take advantage of the new technology
• The expenses to train the utility staff and communicate the changes to the customers
• The expenses to get customers to sign up for the new programs that will decrease demand and save energy
• The operational benefits including lower expenses and capital costs due to the new technology
• The decrease in demand will save generation, distribution, and transmission capital costs
• Energy savings due to customer usage feedback solutions in the home and on the web

There are several vital questions a utility must soon address prior to moving forward with large capital investments, including:

• How will technology choices be determined and will they be supported over time? 
• What are the synergistic benefits between the different smart grid elements?
• What are the requirements for these elements to optimize these synergistic benefits?
• How will this technology impact the business operations and bottom line?

In eight short weeks, West Monroe Partners will help you create a Smart Grid Assessment Profile (S-GAP) including the road map and business case for your smart grid future.

If your organization is considering a transformation to a “smarter” grid or beginning to work on a business case, talk to West Monroe Partners.  We have deep expertise in the key business and technology disciplines that comprise an effective smart grid solution, including:

• Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Meter Data Management Systems (MDMS) technologies
• System integration from meter to cash
• Cyber Security with NIST and NERC CIP Compliance
• Wired and wireless communication technology
• Information technology infrastructure and components
• Utility business process analysis and design
• Substation and distribution automation
• Asset health management
• Support for distributed generation
• Demand Side Management (DSM) and Customer Communication and Outreach Programs
• Energy Efficiency Programs
• Security designed into the solution from the beginning  
• Establishing a project management office and business intelligence tools to manage smart grid deployments 

West Monroe Partners will work with you to build your S-GAP; a business case summary and smart grid road map that is specific to your organization and operations. The business case will include a summary of the operational benefits, energy and demand benefits, as well as the societal benefits such an increase reliability and lower green house gas emissions.  Your S-GAP combined with a West Monroe Energy and Utility consulting partnership will guide your organization through the steps needed to fill in the gaps between your utility’s current state and desired future state.