The Energy Policy Act and the growing effort toward energy conservation and environmental sustainability are driving the need for Advanced Metering Infrastructures, Home Area Networks, and enhanced T&D Automation approaches. Structure's AMI / MDM / Smart Grid Practice is paving the way by offering utilities and energy market participants a comprehensive and pragmatic approach toward achieving the Smart Grid vision. Our practice expertise spans the SmartGrid life cycle: Business Case and Smart Grid Roadmap Development; Requirements Definition; RFP Preparation; Implementation Planning; Project Management and System Integration; and Advanced Business Intelligence Applications.
Structure's AMI / MDM / Smart Grid Practice team comprises highly experienced professionals who provide planning, design, implementation and integration services for a full spectrum of Smart Grid systems, components and applications including:
- AMI communication networks (RF mesh, BPL, RF point to multipoint, IP Over Cellular)
- HAN technologies and Demand Response program management
- Meter Event Management / Complex Event Processing
- Outage Management Smart Grid application
- AMI enabled meter to cash
- EMS GMS DMS specification and implementation
- AMI DMS integration
Most consulting companies in the AMI / MDM space provide specialized but narrow industry expertise. In addition to comprehensive AMI / MDM / Smart Grid expertise, Structure offers in-depth knowledge in Energy Trading and Risk Management, Utility Enterprise Asset Management, Energy Management and Control Systems, and ISO Market Solutions. This broad, energy industry expertise allows Structure to take a holistic view in creating a Smart Grid roadmap, and that offers bigger benefits for energy distributors, suppliers and consumers.
The AMI / MDM / Smart Grid Practice melds together in-depth experience in all aspects of business, infrastructure and technology culminating in providing guidance to leading distribution utilities across North America on AMI, MDM and Smart Grid strategies and designs.
Many of our leads have over 20 years of experience in the utility industry, and have worked on numerous AMI Smart Grid projects across North America bringing a unique aptitude for leveraging large scale technology projects to enable business transformation. Our resources oversaw the implementation of DMS, GIS, OMS, and EAM systems as well as the organizational and business process changes required to improve business performance.
Meter Data Management
Structure consultants have broad experience in implementing meter data management solutions and managing successful projects through all phases of the System Development Lifecycle. Structure has experience in the solution architecture, system design, system configuration, and testing of solutions for multiple clients across the energy landscape. Structure offers unmatched industry knowledge and experience to deliver software solutions that work and meet your business requirements.
Solutions Delivery
System Configuration
While some software offer "out of the box" functionality, custom configuration is required to match the software to business functionality. Often times, these efforts necessitate significant configuration of the software. Structure has extensive experience in large-scale implementations and our consultants have deep skills in product congfigurations. Our approach to system configuration encompasses the following:
- Functional Requirement Definition
- Functional System Design Development
- Technical System Design Development
- Solution Architecture
- Use Case Development
- System Configuration
- Unit Test Development and Execution
System Integration
The most fragile piece to any system implementation is the integration piece. Whether point-to-point interfaces or Enterprise Service Bus are integrating to the system, Structure has deep knowledge of the Data Model and Metadata that, when coupled with a strong functional understanding of the business requirements, minimize the risk of integrating the solution. Structure’s capabilities for system integration focus on:
- Define Functional Data Transfer
- Detail Data Structures In Source and Destination Systems
- Develop Interface Technical Specifications
Project Management
One of Structure’s key strengths is our group of highly competent and seasoned project managers. Structure has numerous employees with PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials. Our project managers focus on achieving a high quality, timely delivery but also operate with a degree of pragmatism that we believe sets us apart. Given our deep industry and solution knowledge, we tend to have a very hands-on project management approach, avoiding the pitfalls of content-free project management. Our project management efforts are typically performed through:
- Project Planning and Management
- Scope Management
- Budget Tracking
- Risk Mitigation
- Vendor Management
- Status Reporting
- Issues Management
System Testing
Structure's experience with system testing spans multiple levels—from Product Testing to Market Trials. Structure has experience in managing and executing testing efforts for large financial systems and system interfaces. Our testing efforts include capabilities in test plan and script development, test execution, as well as complex calculation validations.
- Testing Management
- Test Plan Development
- Test Script Development
- Product Validations
- Test Execution
Business Capability Delivery
Business Process Design
Structure has a deep understanding of the end-to-end business capabilities required in today’s energy companies. We have worked on a large number of business design projects defining end-to-end business capabilities across the front, mid, and back office, as well as more focused engagements developing internal policies and detailed procedures.
- Business Process Review & Design
- Desk Procedure Development
- Risk Policy Review and Development
- Controls Framework Establishment
Organization Design
Through our broad experience of working with a wide range of today's energy companies, we have gained an excellent understanding of the various operating models prevalent in the market today, and the strategic drivers that give rise to them. We regularly work with our clients to define new organizational units covering all aspects from pure resource allocation and segregation of duties, through to more complex areas such as overall governance, culture and transfer pricing. Structure has worked with clients to define new or changing organizational needs to deliver the following:
- Organization Alignment
- Organization Structure Definition
- Organization Sizing
- Resource Allocation Assessment
- Governance Model Development
- Competency Mapping
- Role and Job Definition
- Recruiting Strategy
Change Management
Whether introducing new technologies, implementing new strategic direction, adapting to a new regulatory environment, introducing process improvements, embarking on cultural change, or facing fundamental business transformation through an acquisition or divestiture, our clients are constantly having to adapt to change. Our objectives to addressing this “change” include: assessing the change landscape, providing coordinated direction and clarity to the change process, anticipating impacts, and promoting acceptance within the organization. These objectives are achieved through the following:
- Change Planning and Readiness Assessment
- Stakeholder Assessment
- Impact Analysis
- Training Development and Delivery
- Performance Management
- Communication Planning and Execution
Business Operations Support
As our clients face new or evolving organizational requirements, Structure has been able to supplement various mid-office and IT operational capabilities to reduce business “continuity” risk. Our highly qualified resources perform the operational support tasks, document the detailed procedures, and train/transition to permanent full-time client employees.
For more information on Structure's AMI / MDM / Smart Grid Practice, contact Stacey Wood at stacey.wood@thestructuregroup.com.