By Chad Hall, Panasonic Connect North America

The rise of the distributed workforce has greatly impacted the enterprise. Hybrid or remote work is now the new normal for many. For some, like utility and line workers, the job has always required mobility.

These workers are the power behind the power. They ensure customers have reliable access to energy, especially during the uncertainties of extreme weather and natural disasters. Customers count on them for maintenance, restoration, and repairs to solve power grid issues in real-time.

It is one of the reasons so much emphasis is being placed on ensuring this mobile, resilient, mission-critical workforce has the right technology solutions at their disposal. In fact, according to Accenture, 59% of utility executives report the pace of digital transformation for their organization is accelerating. To adapt to this change, it is critically important for field workers to be able to connect to the entire utility operations and have computing power at their fingertips.

So, as we honor the work of grid operators and line workers this National Lineman Appreciation Day (April 18 #thankalineman), we must also turn our attention to making sure these professionals have the tools they need to perform their job effectively and efficiently.

Here are some ways mobile solutions help utilities and line workers build and maintain a resilient and secure grid, and address customers’ ever-evolving needs in the era of digital transformation.

Protection against bad weather

While out in the field identifying vegetation encroachments or restoring power lines, utility workers often find themselves in challenging outdoor environments where rain, snow or hail can be the norm. Utility operators depend on mobile solutions that can withstand extreme temperatures, while also allowing them to capture and record the right data regardless of the environment they are in.

Rugged mobile solutions marry computing power with extreme durability. When traveling between the office and utility sites or through rugged terrains, these devices can withstand bumps, vibrations or drops to ensure the workforce is reliably connected.

Another challenge facing the utility industry is the unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change and the increase in energy consumption. This puts tremendous pressure on the nation’s aging infrastructure and may cause power outages that disrupt services provided by the grid or power towers offering wireless connectivity to customers. In fact, it is reported that utility customers experienced 1.33 billion outage hours in 2020, up 73% from roughly 770 million in 2019.

During these uncertain times, customers demand even more visibility and control over their energy usage. This requires utility professionals to be able to access real-time information, communicate with other line technicians with uninterrupted connectivity or report issues to a control center.

Better visibility

Rugged mobile solutions feature software applications and hardware that facilitate streamlined information flow. For example, thermal imaging technology can help operators examine and locate hotspots in the field. Inside buildings or tunnels, external sensors can be connected to mobile devices in order to detect gas leaks and other toxic emissions.

The industry is also beginning to see emerging technologies come into play. Augmented reality (AR) combined with geographic information system (GIS) can help field workers map out the utility service boundaries. These applications offer interactive displays that help workers locate service and grid systems within the area to better serve their customers.

With the increased speed of digitization across utilities, the use cases for digital twins are also on the rise. The technology unlocks the true potential of grid and customer data, and helps utility professionals visualize energy and electricity flow, predict downtime and take actions before an issue occurs.

Note: these technologies cannot benefit utility workers without the foundational piece – wireless connectivity. 5G and private cellular networks such as CBRS spectrum allow the utility industry to modernize operations and build resilience for the critical grid infrastructure. 

Final words

President Biden’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that includes about $65 billion for grid infrastructure highlights what today’s utility workforce truly needs. The important conversation to have now is not “why,” but “how.”

How can we support utility professionals amid the transition to a digital economy and empower them to be more productive?

Mobile technology is an important element of the solution. Its flexibility, scalability and ability to equip utility professionals with better data insights proves to have tremendous value as the workforce becomes increasingly mobile.   

About the Author

Chad Hall is strategic account manager for utility and enterprise mobility solutions for Panasonic.