Wake Electric, a rural electric cooperative in North Carolina, leveraged Sensus FlexNet communication network and Sensus solutions to enhance its operations and customer service. The utility aimed to maximize asset life, streamline outage management, and improve the customer experience by integrating data analytics across various systems.
Key Achievements and Insights:
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Maximizing Asset Life and System Design:
- Utilized Sensus Data Analytics and Transformer Utilization application to identify underutilized transformers (13,152 out of 17,000 were not used to capacity).
- Real-time voltage alarms helped in extending transformer life and improving system design.
- Combined voltage alarms with GIS data to pinpoint sources of voltage issues and identify specific parts needing relocation.
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Streamlining Outage Management:
- Meters sent outage information directly to Wake Electric’s outage management system via FlexNet, improving operational efficiency.
- Automated data storage eliminated manual data entry, allowing employees to focus on restoring service.
- Customers received automated outage alerts, reducing the need for them to call the co-op.
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Improving the Customer Experience:
- Provided members with an online portal and mobile app for reviewing usage data (monthly, daily, hourly) along with corresponding weather information.
- Customers could compare usage before and after events (e.g., purchasing a new water heater) to make informed decisions on energy consumption.
- Enhanced data transparency empowered customers to adjust usage habits, contributing to energy conservation.
Future Plans:
- Testing conservation voltage reduction programs.
- Implementing a distribution automation system.
- Continuing to expand the use of Sensus solutions to improve service quality and affordability.
Wake Electric’s approach highlights the importance of integrating data from multiple systems and analyzing it to derive actionable insights, fostering collaboration across departments and positioning the co-op as a progressive leader in the industry.
