As utilities grapple with the increasing complexity of the grid—driven by the growth of distributed energy resources (DERs), electric vehicles, and the need for more responsive and reliable systems—Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) are quickly moving from forward-looking investments to operational necessities. But implementing an ADMS isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. It requires a comprehensive roadmap, solid data foundations, and careful attention to organizational change. To help demystify what that journey looks like in practice, we sat down with Ron Yoshimura, Principal Consultant at UDC and a trusted voice in the Energy Central Community.
Ron first joined us for an introductory expert interview in 2023 and we checked in with him again last year. In this expert check-in interview, Ron shares experience-driven insights from his work helping utilities prepare for and implement ADMS. From the foundational role of source data assessments and GIS migrations to the critical importance of change management and stakeholder alignment, Ron walks us through what it takes to build a successful ADMS roadmap—and how utilities can ensure they’re extracting the full value once their system is live.
Read the conversation below, and leave Ron some follow-up questions in the comments!
Matt Chester: From your perspective, what are the critical components of a successful ADMS roadmap, and how should utilities begin shaping theirs?
Ron Yoshimura: From my perspective, some of the critical components of a successful roadmap include the following:
A source data assessment where connectivity is tested, required attributes are populated, business rules are put in place for updating and maintaining data, and domain values are employed.
Change management should be used to identify process stakeholders, document current state applications, and identify future state applications. Any new business processes or applications should be identified for training purposes.
A source data mapping workshop should be organized to map source data to future state ADMS application data requirements. Additional data sources should be identified, if needed.
Review the source GIS technology. For example, if using Esri GIS on the Geometric Network (GN), consider migrating to the Utility Network (UN). The UN supports more accurate modeling constructs, and future rework can be avoided if an ADMS is implemented on the UN.
MC: How do you help utilities assess their readiness for ADMS? What foundational systems or processes need to be in place first?
RY: I think the most important assessment that should be done is a source data assessment. Systems that provide source data to the ADMS should contain clean and reliable data. The update processes to maintain data must be well-established, and data should be checked by quality assurance methods to ensure accurate data is provided to the ADMS.
MC: What role does data governance and cross-departmental collaboration play in laying the groundwork for ADMS?
RY: Source data governance is crucial for delivering high-quality and reliable source data to mission-critical downstream applications or systems, such as an ADMS. Cross-department collaboration is essential in any ADMS implementation. Any model deficiencies should be identified by the Operations team for the GIS department, which must correct any defects in the source GIS.
MC: Once implemented, how do utilities extract the most value from their ADMS? What operational shifts or cultural changes are required?
RY: I believe that to get the most value from an ADMS, it is essential to utilize the applications to their fullest potential. Implement high-value applications like Volt Var Control/Optimization, Fault Location Isolation and Service Restoration, and Distribution Power Flow. Trust these applications to provide information more precisely on system performance.
MC: Looking back on some of your project experiences, what are some of the toughest challenges you've faced during system integration or roadmap planning—and how were they overcome?
RY: I think one of the toughest challenges I faced during an ADMS implementation was informing the utility that their source data would not support an OMS/ADMS. This was overcome by developing an ADMS roadmap that clearly defined a path to the ADMS implementation. The roadmap included source data remediation and had short- and long-term data mitigation plans.
MC: What are some overlooked “soft factors” (e.g., stakeholder alignment, change management, training) that make-or-break ADMS success?
RY: Stakeholder engagement is critical for the success of an ADMS implementation. Stakeholders should serve as a valuable resource for project implementation. Change management should be employed during project implementation to identify new business processes or applications, which also identifies training requirements for the new applications.
MC: As grid complexity grows—with more DERs, EVs, and advanced analytics—how do you see ADMS evolving in the next 5–10 years?
RY: ADMS models will have to consider DERs and EVs, and for the most part, they already do. It is advanced analytics that will need to evolve to take into account the additional loads on the grid to support electric vehicles (EVs) and the energy sources from distributed energy resources (DERs).
MC: What advice would you give to utility leaders just beginning to develop an ADMS roadmap or who are facing internal skepticism about the investment?
RY: The advice I would give to utility leaders who are considering an ADMS roadmap is to review the available ADMS applications that make sense for your utility. Explore high-value applications that can significantly reduce time and costs, and attempt to quantify the potential savings in utility efficiency by implementing these applications. Additionally, consider the improvements in system reliability, shortened outage durations, and increased customer satisfaction.
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Thanks to Ron for joining me for this interview and providing a wealth of insights and expertise to the Energy Central Community. You can trust that Ron will be available for you to reach out and connect and ask questions as an Energy Central member, so be sure to make him feel welcome when you see him across the platform.