A Framework-Based Approach to Utility Big Data Analytics

As advances in scientific and business data collection have exponentially created more data, electric utility companies are seeking new tools and techniques to turn the collected data into operational insights and assist with cost-saving decisions. The cost of building a specific business-driven big data application, however, can be tremendously high. This paper proposes developing a standard-based software framework to address key utility big data issues and foster development of big data analytical applications. Based on the support of this generic framework, new big data analytical solutions can be rapidly built and deployed to improve business practices in a utility organization. The proposed framework-based approach, as demonstrated in the conducted case studies, has proven to be promising for addressing the emerging big data challenges in the utility industry.