Analyzing utility information system architectures using the common information model

Properly applied, information technology can go a long way to meet challenges introduced by the changes in power flow introduced by the opening of electricity markets. To provide efficient support to utilities information systems must be well adapted to current and future business needs. For some years the goal of information systems support at utilities have been an integrated suite of IT systems that are well aligned to the business processes. This, to some extent Utopian, goal is sometimes referred to as the integrated utility. This paper presents experiences with applying a modelling approach, using established notation and standards that can be used to analyze utility-wide information system architectures. The specific characteristic of the modelling approach presented in this paper is that the modelling is done with the IEC standardised common information model as a basis. The benefits of using the approach is that it provides a straightforward method to create consistent documentation of use of data and functionality across several systems. The output created consist of unambiguous UML compliant models, and standards based functionality listings in which data and functionality duplication and overlap can be identified. The paper is concluded with a presentation of a case study in which the proposed approach was applied to a real world utility's business processes and systems. The case study shows promising results for the approach, but also underlines the need for further work