November 14, 2014

Bridger Valley Electric Association Simplifies Outage Reporting

Bridger Valley Electric Association Simplifies Outage Reporting with Futura’s OMS

Bridger Valley Electric Association in Mountain View, WY, adds Futura’s Outage Management System to its network to improve outage response and simplify complicated reporting requirements.

“Reporting requirements have become so time consuming, it has been obvious that we’ve needed an OMS for some time. Since we were already using UPN and FuturaGIS, and since these products have worked so well for our co-op, implementing Futura’s OMS product was the next logical step,” says Sean Sherwin, GIS Coordinator for Bridger Valley Electric Association. “Integrating piecemeal software packages can be done, and in the past we’ve had varying degrees of success doing so. But staying within a single software suite provides the benefit of smoother data exchanges – plus when tech support is needed I’ll be able make a single support request, and I won’t have to go through the frustrating process of cobbling together support efforts from competing software companies on a single problem.”

While the enterprise solution was developed and marketed by GIS industry forerunner Futura, it actually is a fantastic communication tool. The system integrates with engineering software in real time to reduce the duration of existing outages and to help dispatchers direct crews more efficiently. The software also offers powerful tools such as network tracing and input from multiple systems from AMI to SCADA to identify potential outages. The system’s ability to link with SEDC’s CIS software is arguably the best tool in the toolbox. The key to any successful relationship is good communication, and keeping the customer up-to-date in outage situations is key to their satisfaction.

FuturaOMS allows every employee to stay updated with the latest events as they occur directly from the CIS screen, and easily conveys pertinent information to BVEA customers through SEDC’s Customer Service Portal, even identifying those in outage areas.

By simplifying outage management with innovative solutions like FuturaOMS, Bridger Valley employees can use technology to handle the complex functions of outage management so they can focus on what is most important to them – their customers.

About Bridger Valley Electric Association

Since 1938, Bridger Valley Electric Association has served members in and around Mountain View, Wyoming. BVEA provides electric service to almost 6,000 meters located in the southwest corner of the state. Recent additions include satellite internet service for members in its entire service territory and wireless internet service to residents in Bridger Valley and Granger areas. Learn more at www.bvea.coop.