Post on 28-Dec-2015
Centralized Management Services
Dawn MalinowskiWisconsin Public Power IncSun Prairie, WI
Overview WPPI Background Current Services First Step Software Hosting Data Acquisition IT Services Benefits Challenges Keys to Success Lessons Learned
WPPI
Municipal Joint Action Agency Formed in 1980 43 member municipalities 80 employees – 14 field, 66 office Peak demand – 1,000 MW 160,000 customers in Wisconsin, Iowa &
Michigan
WPPI Structure
Board of Directors Executive Committee Advisory Groups Staff
Current Services
Hosted Software– Billing/CIS– Finance & Accounting– T&D Joint Purchasing– Helpdesk, support and training
Data Acquisition
Current Services (cont)
Network Support Services– Purchase– Design– Server and workstation replacement– Patch management– Security– Email– Joint purchase of Web Site hosting– Joint purchase of virus protection software
The First Step
Need for electronic communication Corporate Communications Advisory Group
– Review RFP and proposals– Costs passed through wholesale rates– Establish technology standards
Software HostingThe Beginning
Environment in 1998– Retail deregulation expected in 3 years– PSCW Segmentation– Y2K approaching
Created Billing and Accounting Task Force– 10 members– Establish guidelines for members to implement
technology to enable them to compete in a competitive market
Software HostingBAT Force Recommendations
Benefits of working together– New systems expensive– Why should each member bid & implement
separately, especially if WPPI can benefit as well– Network already in place
Presented to Advisory Group and Executive Committee– Directed to develop scope of work– Establish funding mechanism
Software HostingImplementation
Service Bureau approach Funded from transmission refund and member equity Members participate in software selection WPPI provide on-going hardware & software support Maintenance costs allocated across members
Software HostingParticipation
31 members on Harris– 170 users
30 members on Solomon– 125 users
Data AcquisitionThe Beginning
Aging meters Postcard bills Direction from Rates and Delivery Services
Advisory Group
Data AcquisitionParticipation
Provide Time of Use billing data Web access to load data for wholesale and
large customers Some metering & billing services to augment
member staff Interrogate & translate 204 customer meters
for 21 members
IT ServicesThe Beginning
Lack of dedicated IT staff at member locations
Local resources limited High turnover at local resource – lack of
continuity “Connected” to WPPI network
IT ServicesParticipation
20 members participate on some level Over 500 email and WAN users Well over 100,000 email messages
processed weekly $33,300 purchases YTD
BenefitsMember
Applications now affordable Back end support
– Backups– Disaster recovery– Database administration and maintenance– Upgrades and patch management– Testing
BenefitsMember (cont)
Customize participation level Share costs
– Hardware– Software– Maintenance
Data Acquisition– Daily interrogation– Web access to load data
BenefitsMember (cont)
Hosted Software– Modular– Workshops and user groups– Shared reports– Dedicated support and training staff– Web access for electronic bill presentation and
payment, financial and budget information
BenefitsWPPI
Common platform Common data structure Access to data used for other member
services
Challenges
Staffing– Never enough– Right combination of technology and customer
service
Managing expectations of management and end users
Keys to Success
Member involvement and participation Projects strategically or technologically important Address member issues
– Equity– Autonomy– Expectations
Good Communication– People– Technology
Keys to Success
Manage expectations Select projects based on value Cost sharing methodology up front
Lessons Learned
Collaborative projects are always bigger than anticipated
– Management– Coordination– Staffing
Don’t Underestimate– Time commitment– People’s reluctance to change
Lessons Learned (cont)
Building Block Approach– Wide-area-network
Upgrade networks and workstations email and internet service
– Hosted Software– Network Services
Communications Support– Promotion
Lessons Learned (cont)
Ground work with management Management support Services agreements Internal Project Management