Some of the functionality provided by the InService Suite include:

• an interface to support outage management and service order dispatch
• interact with voice response dispatch
• interface to SCADA systems
• interfaces to work management systems (WMS)
• integration with Intergraph FRAMME GIS
• real-time display of GPS coordinates for mobile dispatching

I had the pleasure recently of viewing a demo of the InService Suite used by Florida Power Corp (FPC). The demo involved simulated calls from customers to report service interuptions. In the demo, a dispatcher screens the incoming calls and quickly updates the customer service database. The dispatcher then views a display of all the other customers possible affected and scans the real-time location of mobile dispatch crews. All related calls are automatically grouped by an intelligent databse operation. The dispatcher, now viewing the entire area that may be affected by the outage, selects the nearest work crew and dispatches a work order. Once the mobile field crew has began addressing the trouble, the dispatcher receives updates as to the outage status and can quickly convey this information to concerned customers. Updates and work completed in the field is monitored by the office dispatcher who is continuously viewing a database and map which is being updated with data and progress reports being submitted by field crews. The system enables the FPC to address outage issues in a more timely manner, crew status is constantly monitored, dispatcher's time is freed up. An additional component of the field system is the aility of mobile work crews to quickly notify dispatchers if an emergency should occur. This information is also immedietly sent to emergency response crews.

FPC serves over 1.3 million customers spread out over 20,000 square miles. Their infrustructure is made up of over 24,500 miles of distribution power lines, 4,6000 miles of transmission power lines, 473,000 electrical devices (switches, transformers, fuses), and more than 348,000 streetlights. At the time of publication, FPC had plans to add an additional 300 mobile field devices enabling crews to interact electronicaly with the enterprise system.

Here's how Intergraph Describes InService Suite

"InService is the first fully integrated suite of products providing outage management, dispatch, and mobile data solutions for the electric utility company.

The InService Suite is a highly scalable suite of products that tightly interfaces to Intergraph's FRAMME GIS, adding significant value to your electric data model. InService consists of tightly integrated modules providing full-function distribution analysis including: outage management, service order dispatch, work force management, crew dispatch, and mobile data solutions, to enabling a utility to reduce restoration time, improve operational efficiency and provide superior customer service.

InService provides the tools for electric utilities to lessen the impact of service interruptions to their customers by reducing the time, effort and resources necessary to record service complaints, identify the devices affected and send a repair crew. This results in an overall reduction to the duration of power interruptions and significantly improves operating efficiencies and customer service. InService automates processes associated with managing configuration changes to distribution networks."

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