How Outage Management System Software Improves Grid Resilience & Operational Efficiency

An Outage Management System (OMS) is a critical software tool utility companies use to efficiently plan, manage, and execute outage operations. Outage Management System software collects and analyzes data from resources and elements across the grid to automate outage entry and minimize compliance risk. An advanced utility OMS also leverages machine learning algorithms and predictive analytics to analyze historical outage trends and create more accurate outage plans, reduce opportunity cost, and improve the grid’s long-term reliability. 

In this blog post, we’ll explain how electric utility outage management system software improves operational efficiency and grid resilience, as well as the role advanced OMS software will play in long-term grid reliability. 

Improving operational efficiency with Outage Management System software 

An advanced OMS is a powerful tool for improving utility operational efficiencies. The OMS’ engine streamlines workflows by supplying outage event and status data in a single stream across the entire outage lifecycle process. It also automates the capture and logging of operational events, confirms and adjusts outage schedules, and more. Additionally, an OMS can improve communications between field personnel and operations staff via tools such as real-time messaging, pop-up notifications, and audible alarms.  

An advanced OMS also automatically submits and syncs with market operators and regulatory authorities, reducing the need for time-consuming manual reporting and reducing compliance risks. A solution that integrates with all ISOs, balancing authorities and reliability coordinators accelerates outage data reporting to energy markets and reduces the impact of generation events.  

Improving grid resilience with advanced OMS 

Advanced OMS tools improve grid resilience by utilizing analytics to better position assets and resources, decreasing the time between outage occurrence, response initiation, and outage recovery.  

Additional advanced OMS features include: 

• An energy scheduling application that automates scheduling process for must-take generators and qualifying facilities, ensuring outage schedules are consistent with availability declarations 

• A journal that automatically logs and tracks generation asset issues, simplifying compliance submissions and internal workflow tracking 
• Seamless integration with distributed energy resources (DERs), such as solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems, allowing for better management of decentralized power sources and enhanced grid stability 

OMS and long-term grid reliability 

Thanks to the analytical capabilities and heuristics made possible by machine learning, predictive outage planning is the future of OMS solutions. Predictive analytics can forecast potential outages based on historical data and real-time conditions. This proactive approach allows utilities to improve grid reliability by addressing vulnerabilities before they result in actual outages. 

However, the effectiveness of OMS tools is driven by the volume and diversity of data it can access. Ideally, data inputs should include, at minimum, Locational Marginal Prices (LMP), weather forecasts, Generating Availability Data System (GADS) historical equipment failure rates, long-term service agreements, and turbine currently fired hours.  

When selecting the best outage management system software for your organization, be sure to opt for a solution that will assist you in identifying the best possible outage plan from both a resourcing and costing perspective.