Greg and Scott are here to help guide you through the technology assessment, planning, updating and procurement process.
You truly have a friend in Katama Technology.
Greg Johnson, Owner, Utilities Consultant
704-225-7864
gjohnson@katamatech.com
Scott Durham, Partner, Sr. Consultant
214-912-0671
sdurham@katamatech.com
Katama Technologies, Inc. (KTI) provides technology planning and consulting services including assistance with acquiring, implementing or upgrading:
- Technology planning (plan, roadmap, plan governance)
- Enterprise software (finance, accounting, HR, CIS)
- Metering systems (AMI, MDM)
- Distribution systems (SCADA, OMS, ADMS)
- Customer service software (call center, CCaaS, IVR)
- Telecommunications
KTI’s goal is to provide public power utilities with accurate, objective, thorough, and unbiased assessments for important technology decisions. KTI believes successful investments in technology depend on a series of careful and client-specific analyses. The firm’s comprehensive and adaptable business models are designed as tools for changing circumstances and to monitor various phases of project deployment.
KTI brings a unique combination of industry experience in developing and delivering technology based solutions worldwide, with special focus on USA based public power utilities.
WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED! Recent Katama US Customer Consulting Service Examples
Southeast Utility | 39,000 electric, 35,000 water and 20,000 gas meters |
FOCUS: Strategic Technology Plan, AMI, MDM, OMS, CIS, LED Lighting Selection/Deployment, Full Project Management |
– Business case development for their electric water and gas metering applications, presented to the Utility Commission where we received authorization to proceed – RFP development for multiple applications including AMI, MDM, LED Lighting controls and meter installation services. – Contract development, negotiation support, completion – Outage Management System and Customer Information System selection was added to project scope – KTI served as project management lead – Selected Vendors: AMI – Sensus, MDM – Harris, OMS – |
MRES Joint Action Agency | 61 Members in N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa |
FOCUS: Enterprise Software Plan/Roadmap for MDM, CIS, Billing Solutions Acquisition |
– KTI is the lead consultant providing: – Developed strategic technology roadmap supported by business case with recommendations for pursuing various technologies to assist MRES and the 62 member utilities with improving efficiency, reliability and customer service to electricity, water, and gas consumers across four states. – Execution of the roadmap by providing advice and conducting RFP processes for the various pieces of the roadmap to find the best available solutions. Worked closely with member utilities to produce requirements, use cases, and other documents as part of an overall, comprehensive bid package. – Working closely with MRES, conduct an analysis of the proposals and reach decision on selection of the best vendors. – Ensured processes and documentation were in place for defensible public purchase decision making. – Supported negotiations and produced documents for the contracts with selected vendors. |
Southeast Utility 82,000 electric meters |
FOCUS: Technology Planning and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) with Control Center |
– Comprehensive strategic technology plan & roadmap process to support acquisition of Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) and implementation of associated control center which will operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week – Strategic assessment and overall technology roadmap, followed by the technology evaluation, selection of vendors and the system implementation – Developed all system requirements and comprehensive use cases to detail the data and operating requirements, creation of RFP documents, evaluation and site visits of utilities with systems delivered by short-listed ADMS vendors – ADMS will improve electric distribution operations for all stakeholders by increasing real time data availability, improving data structure and flow for the connectivity model and adding necessary applications such as short circuit analysis, load flow, distributed energy resources and more – KTI is supporting the implementation of the control center using metrics, personnel requirements with related skillsets and training methodologies as well as feedback from utilities with similar operating characteristics – Selected Vendors: XXX |
Northwest Utility | 4,700 electric meters |
FOCUS: Strategic Technology Plan, Business Case, Board Approval, New AMI and MDM Selection/Deployment |
– AMI services including strategic business case analysis; conceptual design and requirements setting, business case presentation to the Board – RFP development, technology evaluation and vendor selection and final contract negotiation support – AMI system was integrated with the NISC enterprise system including MDM and customer portal – Engaged a cross functional utility stakeholder team to detail the technical and functional requirements. – We initiated use case sessions to specify the data required and data exchanged between targeted applications. – Selected Vendors: AMI – Honeywell, MDM – NISC |
South Utility | 115,000 electric meters |
FOCUS: Wide Area Network Communications, SCADA, AMI, Business Process Review, Full Project Management |
– Provided consulting and support for multiple projects including backhaul communications, SCADA system replacement, AMI technology upgrade and deployment and overall business process alignment – Evaluated backhaul network for upgrade from 1 MBPS to 100 MBPS. – Evaluated existing SCADA system including costs for upgrade versus conversion to a competitive system. Conversion to Survalent SCADA offered the optimal functionality at a savings of 40% during 5-years of operations – Developed specification for conversion from drive-by AMR to a new AMI system. Managed RFP and vendor bid process, contract negotiations and supported securing approval from Louisiana Public Service Commission – Provided project support for SCADA implementation and complete project management for new AMI system deployment – Selected Vendors: SCADA-Survalent, AMI-Honeywell, MDM-NISC
|
Midwest Utility | 118,000 electric meters and 52,000 load control devices |
FOCUS: Strategic Technology Plan, Business Case, New AMI Selection/Deployment, Load Control |
– Lead consultant for comprehensive multi-phase AMI, MDM and Load Management project – Started with strategic assessment and business case, followed by the technology evaluation, selection, and initial deployment. – Business case detailed operating savings and benefits associated with an AMI and integrated load management program. – Effort included site visits of deployed systems from short-listed AMI vendors – Comprehensive use cases review to detail the data and operating requirements and establish metrics and targets for technology system acceptance; – Oversaw the system acceptance testing and initial AMI pilot – Project improved electric distribution services by replacing numerous legacy systems and increasing overall automation of metering and load management functions – Selected Vendors: AMI – Itron, MDM – Harris, Load Control – Eaton
|
MRES Joint Action Agency | 61 Members in N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa |
FOCUS: Enterprise Software Plan/Roadmap for MDM, CIS, Billing Solutions Acquisition |
– KTI is the lead consultant providing: – A strategic technology roadmap supported by business case with recommendations for pursuing various technologies to assist MRES and the 62 member utilities with improving efficiency, reliability and customer service to electricity, water, and gas consumers across four states. – Execution of the roadmap by providing advice and conducting RFP processes for the various pieces of the roadmap to find the best available solutions. The RFP process includes working with member utilities to produce requirements, use cases, and other documents as part of an overall, comprehensive bid package. – Working closely with MRES, conduct an analysis of the proposals and reach decision on selection of the best vendors. – Ensured processes and documentation were in place for defensible public purchase decision making. – Supported negotiations and produced documents for the contracts with selected vendors. |
Southeast Utility | 80,000 electric meters |
FOCUS: Strategic Technology Plan, Business Process/Governance Review, New AMI, MDM, IVR Selection/Deployment |
– Comprehensive technology planning effort to: determine a five-year implementation roadmap and develop the corporate technology governance structure. – Supported multiple implementations; AMI replacement for older Power Line Carrier (PLC) system, new MDM selection. – Collaborative process involving three phases: (1) conceptual design and business case review; (2) technical requirements; and (3) RFP process for a short-list of vendors with a comprehensive evaluation process using team-based tools to vet the vendor responses against pre-determined criteria. – Supported the design and selection of a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone system which will enable much improved customer service. |