Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) For Water Utilities

Joel Westvold, PMP, brings a unique perspective to addressing smart meter issues facing utilities based on his 35 years of experience in implementing programs at utilities and providing technology solutions to utility customers to meet their AMI needs. In recent years, he has led several Water AMI feasibility studies and business cases. Joel has experience in a senior management capacity for a large electric utility as well as executive management experience with a technology solutions provider to the utility industry. Joel led a team that implemented an award‐winning AMI project that involved the installation of over 800,000 electric meters, the network to communicate with the meters and integration of the technology with utility systems to gain the most financial benefit and efficiency possible. Joel has led teams of Engagement Directors and Project Managers in the delivery of nearly a hundred smart meter projects involving water, gas and electric endpoints, including an area of focus on several large projects of over 1 million meters/endpoints. Joel has managed AMI efforts at Halifax Water, Huntsville Utilities, Silicon Valley Power, Merced Irrigation District, and Contra Costa Water District. Joel holds an Executive MBA from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University.

Mark Hatfield has 20 years of experience in utility operational technologies. His expertise includes project management, strategic visioning, business process modeling, requirements definition, business case development, vendor selection, integration and implementation planning, system configuration, deployment strategies, and project audits. He has developed product roadmaps, project implementation methodologies, and is an expert at IT integrations. Mr. Hatfield’s expertise includes providing consulting and architecture support for the acquisition and deployment Smart Grid solutions encompassing complete, end-to-end responsibilities to fully implement an advanced smart grid solution with AMI, MDMS, DR, and web portal technologies; and integration with the CIS; developing all Smart Grid solution business processes; and ensuring implementation of the processes through design, implementation, and testing. His recent work includes creating the overall AMI vision, phased implementation schedule, business case development, vendor selection strategy, and RFP process, and providing consulting and vendor selection support for the business case development, technology acquisition, and AMI planning. He holds Masters and Bachelor degrees in Geography from the University of Illinois and the U.S. Air Force Academy, respectively.

Mark Johnson is an expert at implementing and integrating IT systems in a water utility with decades of deep practical knowledge and recently supported MDMS efforts at City of Clearwater, Huntsville Utilities, Halifax Regional Water Commission, and Fort Collins Utilities. Mark has 20 years of experience in smart grid, AMI, MDMS, field automation, and geospatial systems for water, gas and electric utility operation. His expertise includes project management, strategic visioning, business process modeling, requirements definition, business case development, vendor selection, integration and implementation planning, system configuration, deployment strategies, and project audits. He has developed product roadmaps, project implementation methodologies, and is an expert at IT integrations. Mark’s recent work includes creating the overall AMI vision, phased implementation schedule, business case development, vendor selection strategy, and RFP process for Huntsville Utilities’ AMI and MDMS. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Colorado Christian University.