Electric Energy T&D - Index

Electric Energy T&D - EE Magazine March / April 2009 - Index

LightsOn
Information Technology: A Guide to Environmental Compliance for AEP
TM
A significant part of AEP’s iMESH initiative is the use of the
software plus services (S+S) computing model with an Enviancepowered
compliance solution and hosted software that runs from the
web. “Software plus services” loosely defined means that software
applications that run on a local computer or server are used in
combination with an Internet-based service like Enviance.
Enviance provides Internet-based, on-demand systems that help
companies manage and automate environmental, health and
safety compliance activities and greenhouse gas tracking and
emissions reduction. The system handles AEP’s Clean Air Act Title
V and greenhouse gas reporting and National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) compliance management. It also
collects valuable data on things like plant maintenance and emissions
monitoring equipment calibration and will work in combination with
AEP’s locally run software applications such as Microsoft Excel and
SharePoint, creating an effective S+S environment.
The greatest values of the S+S model are that it provides flexibility
with regards to data and systems architecture and is also easy to
deploy, maintain and use. AEP plans to use the Enviance software
to help the company more effectively manage the myriad of federal,
state and local emissions regulations. AEP is in the process of
validating the historical emissions, improving data links and
configuring inventory sources for power plants in 11 states with the
goal of ultimately allowing AEP to rely solely on this software for
greenhouse gas reporting as well.
The S+S model requires little IT infrastructure and support and
will allow for quick deployment across AEP’s many operational
jurisdictions. S+S also creates a flexible online/offline work
environment for users and allows easy but secure access via desktop,
laptop or mobile computing devices through the corporate local-area
network. For example, an environmental compliance professional
could gather the information needed and create reports for all plants
from their laptop in their home office via the Internet within the
secure company firewall.
Unique software and IT architectures available today enable valuable
real-time reporting against live data. Integration technologies such
as the Microsoft .NET Framework enable systems, databases and
other data sources to be easily connected so that workers use live
data to analyze, track progress, explore options and make faster,
more accurate decisions.
Compliance workers collaborate to make even more informed decisions
faster if companies take full advantage of software applications they
might already have such as Microsoft Office Communications Server.
This and other applications in the Microsoft Unified Communications
and Collaboration platform help utility workers collaborate securely
in real-time with each other within company firewalls, across
borders and with partners and vendors, governments and research
organizations, and customers.
18 I March-April 2009 Issue
AEP is on track to have all of its plants and facilities on the same
compliance system by 010. As a result of the company’s IT use and
refreshed business processes, emissions tracking and reporting is
becoming more streamlined and efficient. The system implementation
process also allowed the company to fine-tune and document its
compliance reporting processes so that as employees change roles,
new staff has easy access to the procedures.
AEP is on its way to reaching its compliance goals and, with the help
of IT, the company knows where it stands today, where it’s headed
and the status of its progress.
A Look Ahead
We can all count on rapid regulatory and accountability activity in the
area of climate change. Knowing that, utilities can use information
from multiple sources and solution providers, and then, combine it
with business intelligence and analytics to be better prepared for
tomorrow. Notably, this approach turns required compliance tasks
into activities that add strategic business value.
To be better prepared for future reporting and compliance
requirements, AEP will add an internal data hub that will
complement the compliance reporting and S+S delivery model
the company currently uses. The project will begin by AEP and its
partners consolidating 38 databases into a single Microsoft SQL
Server database to improve the system’s efficiency, and then they
begin data hub construction.
Take Your Own First Steps
After considering the tremendous efficiency, productivity,
accountability improvements and potential return on investment that
today’s IT capabilities bring to sustainability strategies, some utilities
may want to prepare their own IT business case. Although there are
some challenges in preparing for this step, there are none that should
inhibit utilities from beginning the journey and realizing the benefits.
• Secure leadership support: Before beginning, utilities should first
secure leadership commitment to data transparency. This requires a
philosophical shift in leaders’ abilities to trust employees and open
up information flow to those who need it. Support should come
once they fully comprehend the value of workers understanding the
big picture, and then have the ability to drill down to their oversight
areas to make progress toward the company’s overall goals.
• determine the business architecture: Consider the overall company
goals; the compliance-related processes that will be affected and
how those processes can be enhanced and improved. Set specific
goals such as reducing compliance report preparation time from two
weeks to one day and operational goals regarding specific emission
reduction amounts and timeframes. Gaining agreement on a set
of business rules is critical. Conduct a facilitated session among
the major stakeholders to gain understanding and agreement upon
those conditions required for optimal performance.