Technology

Cloud Computing for Electric Utilities

Jon Brown
August 17, 2020

Cloud Computing for Electric Utilities

November 4, 2020 | Online ::

Over the last several months the prevalence of cloud computing has increased at utilities. A Guidehouse report shows that the global smart grid as a service (SGaaS) market, focusing on data services, cloud-based software, and fully managed services is expected to grow to $6 billion in 2025. But there are still barriers to overcome at both the utility and regulatory level.

This course provides a guideline for the implementation of public cloud computing systems and associated software services in the context of electric utilities. Electric utilities face unique challenges with public cloud computing implementations that aren’t seen in other industries and markets. The two main utility specific challenges are cyber security and economic factors.  The electric utility industry faces unique cyber security standards and regulatory requirements. In this training we will cover the specific challenges of NERC CIP-0113.1. This course will also give specific insight into economic challenges – specifically how to capitalize cloud computing infrastructure and services under the accounting rules mandated by FERC and the U.S. government. Instructors will cover several accounting options and the pros and cons of each solution.

Attendees will gain knowledge of best practices for additional utility specific cloud computing challenges, including:

  • Performance
  • Latency
  • Fail-over
  • Data storage
  • Operational red flags

Attend this course for complete coverage of key processes for a highly successful implementation of cloud computing services at an electric utility.

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide attendees an opportunity to:

  • Identify the benefits of cloud computing as it relates to electric utilities
  • Explore the applicable uses of cloud computing in the electric utility space
  • Discuss challenges of cloud computing adoption
  • Identify best practices for cyber security challenges
  • Recognize and prepare for regulatory standards
  • Ascertain and anticipate operational red flags
  • Demonstrate best practices for fail-over and storage

Credits

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EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this event.

 

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must log in each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Panel Discussions and PowerPoint presentations will be used in the program.

Agenda

Wednesday , November 4, 2020 : Central Time

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. :: Log In

9:00 – 4:30 p.m. :: Course Timing

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Lunch Break

Short breaks each hour

The Deployment of Cloud Computing: Benefits to Electric Utilities

Cloud computing has already provided many financial and social benefits to millions of commercial and government entities and has potential to provide many benefits to electric utilities. This session will provide an overview of the uses of cloud computing for electric utilities and provide a status report on cloud computing adoption within the industry.

The Challenges of Cloud Computing

Electric utilities must address two major sets of challenges with cloud computing implementation: cyber security and economic issues.  Within this session, instructors will detail likely barriers for electric utility adoption:

  1. Cyber Security
  • Defining confidentiality in the cloud computing context
  • Resource allocation and network access
  • Monitoring techniques
  • Security tools
  1. Regulatory Requirements
  • The specific challenges of NERC CIP-0113.1
  • Best practices and provisions to meet standards
  1. Economic Challenges
  • Navigating accounting rules mandated by FERC
  • Pros and cons of accounting options

Best Practices for Additional Utility-specific Challenges

This session will go into depth on further challenges of cloud computing adoption. Electric utilities must have plans in place for uncertainties in the following areas:

  • Performance
  • Latency
  • Fail-over
  • Data storage
  • Operational red flags

Instructors

Lead Instructor

Ken Caird, Partner, VNC Tech Group

Ken has over 40 years’ experience in the electric utility automation field. He was responsible for the high-level architectural design for GE’s Smart Grid System offering. Ken is also responsible for developing requirements and working with external system integrators to provide interoperability between utility real time network operational systems and IT based enterprise systems.  Ken was the U.S. national country representative on the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards Management Board (SMB) Smart Grid (SG) #3. The SMB SG#3 was responsible for the recommendation of existing standards to be used in Smart Grid projects, identifying gaps in existing standards and identifying new standards required to fully allow interoperability amongst vendor products. Ken is also leading the IEC SMB SG#3 Architecture Task Team developing a database linking Smart Grid business and architectural requirements to IEC standards. He is also Chief Technical Consultant and Software developer for Light the World – a non-profit organization developing low cost DC microgrids for Third World customers who do not have electricity.

Additional Instructors:

Anthony Maiello, Founder, VNC Tech Group

Anthony is a mission driven growth technology leader with over 35 years’ experience in a broad array of industries including energy, security systems, manufacturing, information technology, and electronics software systems. He was the former Chief Technology Officer at GE Energy and is a world-wide respected technologist with deep knowledge in industrial and enterprise software systems, SaaS/PaaS/IaaS, IoT, artificial intelligence, and cloud technologies.

Kristin Janacek, Partner, VNC Tech Group

Passionate for solving complex challenges, Kristin repetitively brings solutions to reality for the customer resulting in measurable business value by bringing forward best practices to create relevant and sustainable solutions. Kristin was formerly the Senior Customer Value and Markets Leader for GE Power and brings over 15 years of experience of leadership, design thinking, strategy and complex problem solving.

Suri Ramlogan, Partner, VNC Tech Group

Suri is a business focused executive with 30 years of extensive global leadership experience in product strategy, design, and innovative technologies in business-to-business and consumer spaces.  Prior to VNC, Surj had worldwide responsibility at Sabre as the SVP of Product Development / Chief Technology Officer leading the design, development, operations and delivery of Airline Solution’s product portfolios.  He also served in senior leadership technology roles at McKesson, Thermo Scientific, Microsoft, Web-Tv. IBM & Northrop Grumman. 

Online Delivery

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

  • You will receive a meeting invitation will include a link to join the meeting.
  • Separate meeting invitations will be sent for the morning and afternoon sessions of the course.
    • You will need to join the appropriate meeting at the appropriate time.
  • If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
  • The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Register

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Cloud Computing for Electric Utilities

November 4, 2020 | Online
Individual attendee(s) - $ 795.00 each

Buy 4 in-person seats and only pay for 3! For this event every fourth in-person attendee is free!

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before October 02, 2020 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800