How FirstEnergy Modernized Grid Operations with ArcGIS Utility Network

Electric grids are becoming increasingly complex thanks, in part, to population growth, adoption of electrification, and the connection of more renewable energy sources. To keep up with these changes, utility companies like FirstEnergy (an investor-owned electric system with 10 distribution companies that supply electricity to six million customers across five states) are modernizing their operations.

FirstEnergy embarked on a multiyear modernization project, relying on a geographic information system (GIS) to enhance its network management capabilities and empowering its grid to use future technologies. This project included implementing an advanced distribution management system (ADMS), distribution automation, and a mobile graphic work design tool, all integrating with ArcGIS Utility Network.

FirstEnergy controls 2,200 substations and 8,400 circuits throughout an area of 50,000 square miles, making the implementation the largest electric distribution Utility Network project in the US. In 2023, it was deployed to 650 employees.

FirstEnergy’s customized system for operating its grid had become dated, resulting in data accuracy issues and the inability to include features such as automation and forecasting.

Staff needed a modern system to model the organization's network that used both GIS and ADMS to provide a more comprehensive view of operations.

“Simply put, we needed a solution to let us easily see and predict how power is moving on an increasingly complicated and layered grid,” said Ted Allan, director of the GIS/ADMS project at FirstEnergy. 

With FirstEnergy’s current and future needs in mind, staff decided to migrate their system to ArcGIS Utility Network, a configurable system that leverages ArcGIS Enterprise alongside ArcGIS Pro for advanced asset modeling, analysis, business integration, and communications.

The implementation journey started with finding a partner to provide technical processes and instruction for the software. FirstEnergy worked with SSP Innovations, an Esri partner specializing in GIS and data services, work and asset management solutions, and management consulting.

In addition to providing the planning and technical expertise throughout the implementation project, SSP staff led the effort to create the new data model and provided oversight for migrating the data to ArcGIS Enterprise and creating the new data model.

“SSP [staff] were our subject matter experts for all things Esri and guided us as we envisioned what we wanted our data to be moving forward,” said Jamie Chipps, manager of applications support for distribution at FirstEnergy. “Setting up the data model was a huge undertaking because we had a lot of decisions to make and priorities to consider.”

Consistent, accurate data is crucial to the Utility Network migration.

"Bad data often leads to inaccuracy in other systems and maps, which ultimately cause poor decisions,” Chipps said. “The future is data, and GIS is the keeper of that data."

Next, SSP helped FirstEnergy set up Portal for ArcGIS so staff could easily share maps, scenes, apps, and other geographic information via a custom website.

"Portal really enabled staff from all around the company to use maps and run with them for what they needed," said Chipps, adding that Portal was used for vegetation management and smart meter teams' mapping projects, among others.

SSP personnel also helped ensure the solution could function across all 10 of FirstEnergy’s businesses. With ArcGIS Utility Network in place, 650 employee users in those 10 businesses can now access the same software, data model, and workflows to manage their respective networks.

SSP products were also added to help with Utility Network. For example, FirstEnergy's staff use SSP Productivity, which simplifies asset editing and automates complex GIS processes, like versioning. This solution frees FirstEnergy’s GIS editors from time-consuming processes and ensures the network is clean.

FirstEnergy staff also use SSP Delta, a tool that simplifies data exchange between Utility Network, ADMS, and other connected applications. The solution tracks data changes in Utility Network and sends updates to systems connected to the network in near real time.

The combined technologies have transformed manual processes. Mappers no longer need to piece together data manually; instead, they can use premade templates. It is also now possible to automatically send circuits to FirstEnergy’s ADMS, saving time and ensuring the information is current. Moreover, FirstEnergy created automated nightly updates, allowing staff to create queries and perform analysis, which would have been challenging to do before.
 

Staff will be able to model FirstEnergy's network in much more detail than in the previous system to include internal substations, mesh networks, and duct systems. This enables new capabilities for capacity planning and load management. By using ArcGIS Utility Network, staff have access to a high-accuracy foundation for all of FirstEnergy's operational technology, which updates the ADMS in near real time.

“GIS is the foundation for keeping our ADMS populated with current, accurate network information,” said Allan.

“The benefits of ArcGIS Utility Network are growing throughout the organization.” Chipps said. “GIS data is being used by more departments. Data reporting and analytics run faster, are easier to generate, and make more sense. The GIS team is delivering more meaningful reports to executive management. Moreover, FirstEnergy staff are using tools like ArcGIS StoryMaps to visualize problems and present solutions via Portal.”

FirstEnergy staff anticipate greater benefits as they further develop their system. Short-term goals include rolling out the system to more departments and ensuring they know who to contact for GIS assistance. The utility also wants to make its maps and data available on mobile GIS applications for inspection and maintenance crews to use on tablets. Ultimately, Chipps hopes to eventually provide GIS access to all FirstEnergy employees.