Vermont Public Power Supply Authority to bring mapping software, data analytics to members

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
December 14, 2020

Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA) and mPower Innovations on Dec. 10 announced a strategic partnership to bring mapping software and data analytics to VPPSA’s 11 community-owned electric utilities.

The partnership is a key step in deploying future utility technology advancements, including VPPSA’s anticipated 2021 rollout of advanced metering infrastructure for Vermont’s smallest electric utilities, VPPSA noted.

VPPSA is a joint action agency that provides services and solutions to their member municipal electric utilities and their combined 30,000 customers. mPower Innovations is a GIS software developer.

Under the partnership, mPower and VPPSA will build and maintain a geographic information system (GIS) mapping program for each VPPSA member utility.

A services and software licensing agreement will allow VPPSA and its members access to mPower’s Integrator software, which retrieves data from AMI meters and enables geospatially-based load analysis, voltage analysis, interconnection studies, and insight into energy use trends.

VPPSA members can also use the software for multiple purposes including cost-effectively managing utility assets, preventative maintenance, vegetation management, and outage tracking and analysis.

“GIS mapping and circuit modeling provide a solid foundation from which to build out further technological innovations, but it’s a service that small utilities may struggle to afford on their own,” said VPPSA General Manager Ken Nolan in a statement. “VPPSA is constantly exploring opportunities to bring economies of scale benefits to our members. We are grateful to mPower for developing an accessible price structure and think this arrangement could serve as a model to joint action agencies around the country.”

VPPSA noted that as an indication of its commitment to the partnership, it has hired a full-time GIS Technician to work with member utilities and mPower to successfully deploy mapping software.