Mobile Data Technology at Florida Power Corporation

FPC™s Business Strategy
FPC™s effort to expand customer relationships is to provide competitively priced energy, excellent reliability, and outstanding customer service. The Delivery 2000 (D2K) project is a package of new technology and delivery systems that is streamlining operations and improving customer service.

A mobile data plan was part of FPC™s initial business strategy in planning the D2K project.
An analysis was performed on who would be using the mobile application to determine the number of units and training requirements. A review summarized where the users would be located, how many would use the system, how often they would be in the field and for how long.
All potential sources of data used and applications that would share the same data with the mobile system were identified - along with where the data would be stored, how frequently the various sources would be accessed, if remote access to the data would be required from the field, and whether the data would be required in real-time or some other form.
As part of the overall D2K evaluation of technology, FPC identified software and hardware providers and the support resources. FPC selected off-the-shelf solutions, which were less expensive and easier to implement than custom solutions.

The Technology at FPC
Mobile solutions have automated the distribution of crew workload at FPC, enabling dispatchers to focus on emergency situations and serve larger workforces and territories. By transmitting job status information to the office, dispatchers and supervisors can quickly monitor progress and reprioritize orders. Field crews stay informed through interactive messaging with dispatchers and access to critical corporate information systems. Mobile deployment at FPC has optimized crew efficiency Ś mobile units provide field crews with mobile links to the dispatchers and electrical facilities data using electronic maps.

In June, FPC successfully implemented Intergraph™s InService Mobile application as part of their D2K initiative to enhance customer service and increase operating efficiency across its 20,000 square mile service territory in north and central Florida.

By means of a CDPD communications link, outage information is communicated to the mobile unit from the outage management system, and transmitted back is outage information as well as vehicle position information from the global positioning system (GPS) attached to the vehicle.

Table 1. D2K Technology

Application	Vendor
AM/FM/GIS	Intergraph FRAMME
Outage Management & Dispatch	Intergraph InService OMS
Mobile Data	Intergraph InService Mobile
WMS	Severn Trent STORMS
CIS	Anderson One
Mobile Hardware	Hammerhead, Walkabout and Panasonic CF25
Communication	GTE

InService incorporates CDPD/Cellular switched, which enables FPC to carry more traffic with enhanced computing capabilities. Positioning information communicated to the mobile unit is transmitted to the InService Outage Management System (OMS), which utilizes the GPS information to update position.