Rugged mobile devices improve OPPD performance

Many energy companies have turned to digital technology to streamline operations and increase employee productivity. One example is Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), the 12th largest public utility in the US. OPPD recently decided to deploy hundreds of semi-rugged TOUGHBOOK 55 devices to multiple units, including meter technicians, troubleshooters, line crews, and systems security and automation personnel. To better understand the thought process behind the implementation, POWER asked Brent Saltzman, manager of Endpoint Engineering at OPPD, a few questions.

POWER: What challenges does OPPD face as one of the largest electricity suppliers in the U.S.?

Saltzman: As one of the nation’s largest utilities, OPPD serves more than 400,000 customers across 5,000 square miles in eastern Nebraska. The demand for electricity in this territory is growing at an unprecedented rate. The company’s field staff work tirelessly to meet customer needs, and they need technology that can work as hard as they do.

To meet this demand and continue to effectively meet customer needs, OPPD knew it had to adapt and transform to become a digital utility. The goal was to increase the company’s efficiency and improve customer communications by implementing connected technology solutions. This included integrating data management systems and robust communication networks into workflows to better collect, store and analyze real-time electricity data.

POWER: What solutions supported OPPD in its journey to becoming a digital services company?

Saltzman: To help with the company’s transition and evolution, OPPD sought a reliable mobile computing solution to replace outdated consumer-grade devices prone to connectivity delays, bottlenecks, and compatibility issues. We needed a device that would withstand the harsh operating conditions of utility networks, support older equipment, and grow with the company. As part of this move, OPPD also wanted to transition from paper-based systems to digital platforms to ensure accurate data capture, more efficient reporting, and more reliable data availability in the field.

OPPD has chosen to deploy 200 Panasonic Connect TOUGHBOOK 55 devices. These semi-rugged devices provide durability and functionality, exceeding OPPD’s performance and reliability needs in a variety of environments to support measurement technicians, line crews, troubleshooters, and system security and automation personnel during their daily work.

POWER: How does technology benefit OPPD field workers?

Saltzman: Rugged mobile devices are especially helpful for troubleshooting. These teams often work 12-hour shifts and need constant access to their device throughout the day. For example, if a customer loses power, the troubleshooter receives detailed information about the location of the outage via Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software. They need access to critical situational information before they arrive on site so they can work quickly on-site to mitigate downtime and provide customer support. This is made possible by the long battery life and hot-swappable battery capabilities of TOUGHBOOK devices, which provide workers with access to the information they need through a variety of connectivity options. With these connectivity options, OPPD workers can now access real-time geographic information system (GIS) data, making remote asset inspections easier and speeding response times.

TOUGHBOOK 55 devices also support field staff in working in difficult environmental conditions such as rain, snow and bright sunlight. In many cases, power outages can be caused by extreme weather conditions, and consumer-grade devices are not always designed to withstand rigorous environmental conditions. However, the rugged devices have a large screen with brightness settings that allow OPPD staff to view critical information in extremely bright or dark conditions, as well as a touch panel that can be used with gloves. This reduces time spent finding a place to work out of the sun’s glare or returning to the van to take off gloves in the cold and fill out reports.

In addition to their reliability in the field, the semi-rugged devices can be easily integrated into the company’s operations and workflows, minimizing the burden on OPPD’s IT (information technology) team. Working with Panasonic Connect enabled the OPPD team to configure and deploy the devices for field use on day one.

POWER: How is OPPD enabling its communities to thrive now and in the future?

Saltzman: OPPD’s transition to a digital services enterprise is not just about modernization. It’s a commitment to meeting the needs of our customers today while preparing for the challenges likely to be around the corner. By integrating rugged mobile technology with a focus on customer-centric solutions, OPPD can meet the productivity, efficiency and flexibility needs of field workers to give our communities the power they need to thrive.

—Aaron Larson is the editor-in-chief of POWER.