While most utilities believe their current approach to grid monitoring is effective, a deeper analysis finds there is urgent need for improvement. This is the key takeaway from a new survey and report, Identifying Grid Monitoring Trends and Capabilities Among Utilities.

Released by Utility Dive’s StudioID and Aclara, a member of the Hubbell Incorporated family, the report’s findings are based on insights from 160 utility leaders representing investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities.

The report’s findings come at a time of accelerating transformation across the utility industry. For example, distributed energy resources (DERs) like rooftop solar and energy storage are being connected to the distribution grid at an unprecedented rate. While the influx of DERs supports utility decarbonization and customer engagement initiatives, the transition to a decentralized and low emissions grid also underscores the importance of grid monitoring in providing reliable electricity to customers.

The report found that utility executives overwhelmingly understand the key role of grid monitoring. In fact, over 90 percent of respondents agreed that grid monitoring and advanced metering are critical to their company’s strategy.

Uncertainty belies confidence in utility grid monitoring

But the report also uncovered a more complicated picture when it comes to utility confidence in the effectiveness of their own grid monitoring. For example, over half of the utility executives surveyed believe their existing distribution grid monitoring programs and solutions are effective.

That’s only part of the story. Identifying Grid Monitoring Trends and Capabilities Among Utilities also makes it clear that many utility leaders realize their grid monitoring isn’t ready for the challenges posed by a distributed and decarbonized grid. For example, the survey found that:

• Confidence in grid monitoring is not unanimous 45 percent of utility executives said they were only somewhat confident, not very confident, or not at all confident they had a full picture of what is happening on their distribution grids.
• AMI and a stronger network are priority investments Survey respondents also identified specific investments that would bolster their grid monitoring capabilities. A majority ( 61 percent) of utility executives said additional investment in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) would improve their confidence in grid visibility while another 53 percent cited the need for additional investment in a stronger network. Better and more robust data collection was cited as a priority worthy of investment by 48 percent of respondents.
• Utility leaders identified challenges to better grid monitoring 36 percent said network resiliency and long restoration times were top challenges while 34 percent cited available circuit capacity, 32 percent highlighted power quality, and 31 percent chose grid visibility. 
• High costs are an obstacle.  According to the report, 57 percent of utility leaders said investment expenses prevented them from implementing grid monitoring.

Utilities need a comprehensive strategy

Expert analysis in the report lays out a blueprint utilities can follow to maximize the impact of their investments. The report concludes comprehensive grid monitoring should be the goal. Focusing on just one aspect of grid monitoring – like the deployment of AMI or sensors – won’t deliver the improved grid visibility and reliability that comprehensive grid monitoring can.

The report outlines four capabilities necessary for comprehensive grid monitoring. They are:

• Grid visibility enabled with communication networks
• Grid control using distribution automation and sensors
• Predictive capabilities supported by sophisticated software and analytics
• Prevention of grid constraints and other problems before they happen

Finally, the report makes the case for working with a partner who can provide an end-to-end solution for comprehensive grid monitoring.

To download the report and learn more about how Aclara partners with utilities to achieve the benefits of comprehensive grid monitoring, please click here.