Over the last year our client has been preparing to conduct a system-wide engineering survey of its distribution system, approximately 3009 pole line miles, for the purposes of identifying transformers for replacement.​ The survey will be conducted by an outside vendor who will extract data from our Geographic Information System (GIS), place this information onto handheld mobile units, perform their engineering work, create necessary designs, and then import the GIS information back into GIS.​ This effort is estimated to take until the end of 2009.​ The first half of 2008 was be dedicated to the pilot phase of the engineering survey with minimal field personnel (ten or less), in the second half of 2008 and 2009 full production will ramp up to the point where as many as forty to fifty field personnel are actively performing engineering work in the field.​

            This is a complex and multi-faceted project requiring many varied roles.​ Some of these include:

                        Project Managers

                        Quality Control personnel

                        GIS programmers and operators

                        Field and data technicians

                        Vendor and PAR Coordinator(s)

                        Circuit Manager

Utility PAR Coordinator

Problem Reporting and Answer Process

            The Problem Reporting and Answer Process is an established process for reporting, tracking, and resolving PARs.​ A PAR is a unique issue uncovered during the engineering survey that requires actions to be taken for resolution.​ PARs will be created, tracked, and managed utilizing a web based software interface.​ The Utility PAR Coordinator must become a proficient user of this system and the PAR process.​ The Utility PAR coordinator will be responsible for managing the PARs submitted by the engineering survey vendor.​ Most PARs submitted to our client are related to clarification of field collection rules, GIS drafting/​whitespace management rules or the resolution of unique situations encountered over the course of the project.​ In general the UPC will not directly answer PARs but must contact, assign the appropriate subject matter expert, assign priorities and due dates, and ensure resolutions are being actively sought.​ In this respect the UPC is acting as a switchboard for PARs.​ A failure of the PAR process can result in delays and cost increases to the engineering survey; which is on a very rigid schedule and budget.​

PAR Volumes and Specifics

            We estimate approximately seventy-five PARs per week on average.​ This number may drop off after a certain period of the production phase of the engineering survey.​ The PARs generated may consist of:

• Clarifications on how to collect and deliver new scenarios found in the field that have not been previously defined.​
• New features found in field that are not in GIS that our client would like the vendor to PAR.​
• Missing transformer KVAs that are needed for calculating overloads.​
• Field issues that may require resolution from data coordinators or other personnel.​
• Cannot access locations.​
• Customers that are upset by vegetation removal.​
• Devices found in field (that are not in GIS, i.​e.​ reclosers/​airbreaks/​Pads/​Peds/​Submersible tubs/​ etc.​).​
• Devices not found in field (that are in GIS, i.​e.​ reclosers/​airbreaks/​Pads/​Peds/​Submersible tubs/​ etc.​).​
• Any hazardous conditions reported to our client dispatched for immediate resolution.​
• Any modifications made to GIS while a circuit is locked-down.​
• Any returned circuit with an error flag that is set by the vendor indicating the operating condition is different than what we stated in GIS (i.​e.​ a tie recloser set in an open state when GIS stated it was closed).​
• Load swaps on circuits during or after a circuit is surveyed.​

Circuit Manager

Circuit Import and Export Process

            During the course of the survey, circuits (of which the client has approximately 400) will leave the GIS and reenter following this high level process:

Each circuit that flows through this process will have a predefined schedule.​ The Circuit manager is responsible for tracking circuits as they move through the process and communicating when schedules are not being met.​ The UCM will also be responsible for communicating circuit status throughout the company as well as validate and support the project status reports generated by the Project Manager.​

·         Result Orientation

·         Multi-tasking

·         Project Management

·         Providing Clear Direction

·         Communication Skills

·         Electric Distribution and Transmission Utility Knowledge

o   Familiarity with Electric Distribution and Transmission assets

·         Exposure to the client’s Application suite and its capabilities

o   GIS (ESRI)

·         Knowledge of the client’s Culture and Electric System personnel