Data and Analytics – Page 2 – Feblowitz Energy Consulting

Resource planning just got more complicated

March 25, 2020 / Jill Feblowitz / Data and Analytics, Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Integrating Renewables

Resource planning has changed a lot over the last five years, with the increase in intermittent renewables and distributed energy sources. In 2018, the piece Are DER Heavy Utilities Being Held Captive by Technology Limitations?, posited that analytical tools for used for planning are no longer adequate. Flash forward to 2020 and there are more […]

Utilities are getting nimble with analytics start-up investments and partnerships

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Start-ups, Start-ups

Demanding times call for innovation and utilities have responded by getting involved. Traditionally risk averse, utilities now recognize that they can learn from companies that are born of a culture of fail fast, learn and move on. Active organizations are participating on Advanced Research Projects Energy (ARPA-E) advisory boards, initiating corporate venture funds, partnering with […]

Gas leaks are a major headache for utilities, but analytics can help

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Gas Distribution, Regulation

With the gas explosion in San Bruno in 2010 came an uptick in public attention to the hazards of pipeline leaks. Regulators in several states are mandating more regular inspections and reporting, and penalties for incidents can be crippling. It is not just high-volume leaks that have potential for harm. Smaller gas leaks, which are predominantly methane, […]

Situational awareness depends on weather forecasting for utilities

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Data and Analytics, Weather Forecasting

The phrase, “you don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing,” applies less and less these days. Between wildfires in California and flooding in the Carolina’s, utilities have been on high alert. In the past, utilities were limited to regional weather forecasts to aid storm and fire response. That […]

Analytics are at the core of NWA projects

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Data and Analytics, Demand Response, Distributed Energy Resources, Microgrids, Non-wires Alternatives

Non-wires alternatives (NWA) are gaining popularity in utilities, so much so that E4theFuture funded a study by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and the Peak Load Management Association (PLMA) on the topic. The study investigates 10 case studies utilities where utilities have planned and/or implemented NWA in their service territories. According to Non-Wires Alternatives: Case […]

Is R Shiny the Holy Grail for publishing analytics?

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Data and Analytics

Data visualization tools have brought many benefits to the utility industry, making it easier for employees to understand historical trends and events as they unfold. Advanced analytical tools enabling predictive analytics, optimization modeling and risk simulation help utilities predict what may happen, understand the impacts of possible scenarios, and assess what approaches to take. For […]

New uses of smart meter data are coming to utilities

February 4, 2019 / Jill Feblowitz / Data and Analytics, Smart Meter Data

It is that time again. FERC just published a paper that has been on my night stand every year at this time since 2006: the Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering. The original economic justification for smart meters was tangible—reducing the cost of truck rolls. By their own admission, utilities were slow to understand what […]

Category Archives: Data and Analytics