Arizona Public Service Company Overview
Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona
Serves 1.4M electric customers
Largest and longest-serving energy provider in the state
Project Highlights
Project Duration: 03/2025 – 12/2025
Objective: Network Information Management Preparation
Arizona Public Service (APS) is partnering with UDC on several initiatives to prepare the utility organization and its electric assets for transition from the geometric network to the ArcGIS Utility Network. The utility recently completed a proof of concept and data readiness evaluation for the Utility Network in collaboration with UDC. This effort involved a full migration of the transmission and distribution data into an AWS Utility Network sandbox environment, where editors had the opportunity to explore data management tools within the new model using APS’s electric data and workflows.
UDC is extending the organization’s access to AWS for an additional 10 months to further support current and future Utility Network initiatives. Through the UDC-hosted cloud environment, APS is achieving a shorter deployment timeline, a more streamlined approach to evaluating Utility Network solutions and functionalities, and reductions in internal overhead and system management.
Network Management Goals
APS is working towards building a Network Information Management System and creating an end-to-end digital twin of the electric grid within the Utility Network for its substation, transmission, and distribution systems. This digital transformation aims to integrate the GIS with other business systems to drive higher sustainability, reliability, and efficiency across the organization.
The move to Network Management and the Utility Network will help APS address key business challenges related to GIS administration and maintenance, data quality and completeness, reliance on manual-based processes, data accessibility, and power restoration preparedness.
Project Components
The proof of concept included an initial workflow and data review, as well as a comprehensive source and Utility Network data model compatibility analysis using UDC’s HEIDE and auto-migration tools. This process involved building and configuring key editing templates and web applications, which included ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Field Maps.
UDC fully configured sample data sets for the Utility Network and stood up editing templates and applications in the cloud environment. To maintain this environment, UDC manages the AWS cloud services and performs system administration tasks, namely applying monthly patches and conducting security monitoring. Additionally, UDC is configuring the AWS network services in this environment to provide APS with the ability to evaluate the performance of a published feature service in the cloud and an Oracle Exadata Utility Network on the local APS network. This insight will enable the utility to make informed decisions about the full implementation.
Project Benefits
The AWS cloud environment allows GIS editors to explore third-party data management tools within the Utility Network using their specific utility workflows and data. UDC has actively supported APS in this exploration by configuring two of the utility’s day-to-day GIS mapping workflows in the environment: Work Order Construction Mapping and As-built GIS Mapping. This hands-on experience enables APS to identify the tools that best meet their specific needs and workflows for full implementation. UDC also documented the Utility Network workflows and tools to aid with future asset data update needs.
Insights gained from the proof of concept and cloud environment have empowered APS to develop a request for proposal for full implementation specifically tailored to its requirements, significantly streamlining the selection process. As a result, the utility can obtain accurate pricing for the full implementation while ensuring it chooses the right partner for its journey to modern Network Management.
Contact UDC for more information and see our Enterprise Architecture and Utility Network service pages to learn how we can support your transformation to Network Management.