Case Study: Utility Network Migration Planning Springboards Business Transformation

Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) Company operates as four separate brands, delivering electric and gas services to over a million customers across eight states. Migrating to ArcGIS Utility Network is a central focus of MDU’s One Utility Initiative, which aims to achieve operational alignment across its brands. The project involves developing a single Utility Network system-based GIS. In addition, it includes innovative tools and applications to serve all four businesses. 

Challenge

MDU wanted to use its migration to the Utility Network as a catalyst for transforming its current operations. MDU’s vision is to bring all three of its gas businesses into alignment. This includes standardizing on the same tools and technology, data model, and business processes. Standardizing enables MDU to optimize its processes more efficiently. It also helps manage operational costs.

In addition to getting its migration to the Utility Network right, MDU also needed to align its Utility Network program with other technology projects and transformation initiatives. MDU wanted to ensure that the entire organization was moving in the same direction. MDU also wanted to create a more agile organization that could quickly take advantage of future technology advances.

Partner

MDU partnered with SSP Innovations to develop a vision and comprehensive plan to guide its Utility Network project to success. With over 27 Utility Network projects under its belt, SSP brings a wealth of technical knowledge and practical experience to large-scale Utility Network programs. In addition, SSP’s Utility Network Advantage Program (UNAP) provided a framework for defining MDU’s program road map.

Project Team

Michael Goggin, Principal Consultant with SSP Innovations, and Lance Elroy, Director, Process Improvement and Operations Systems at Montana-Dakota Utilities Company

Solution

MDU created a single data model based on the Utility Network for its five operating brands. Over five months, SSP helped MDU develop a clear vision, detailed scope and budget, and realistic timeline for moving to the Utility Network. In addition to getting all the technical details right, a central focus of the project was looking at how the Utility Network could enable MDU’s vision to optimize workflows with greater capabilities and efficiencies.

The planning process included a current state assessment that evaluated MDU’s current GIS technology, workflow, data quality, and pain points. MDU’s plan lays out a development path that coordinates its ongoing work and asset management implementation and other corporate initiatives. 

Results

MDU’s plan provides a clear direction for its Utility Network program. Business leaders understand what they can and should do before moving forward, what the effort looks like, and where future opportunities lie. They have everything they need to acquire a budget, mitigate risk, and launch their program successfully.

One of MDU’s main business case drivers is to get on the latest suite of technology that Esri is supporting. In addition, MDU believes a return on investment (ROI) will come from significantly improving its workflows by taking advantage of all the tools and functionality that are a part of the Utility Network.