Breaking down data silos in electric utility operations

Modern electric utility operations run on data from operational technology, GIS, asset systems, information technology applications, and field crews, but silos between those utility systems create blind spots that slow outage restoration, complicate business continuity management, and raise risk. See how breaking down those silos and creating a connected operational picture turns raw operational data into faster, safer decisions in the field, the control room, and the utility field operations center. 

Key insights

• Data silos between operational technology, GIS, asset records, and field tools create information gaps that slow outage response, code compliance efforts, and maintenance decisions.
  
• A connected operational picture that unifies SCADA events, network maps, asset data, and field updates gives every team the same current view of the grid.
  
• Strong governance, a clear business process framework, and clear system-of-record roles keep operational data accurate, secure, and usable across departments instead of trapped in individual platforms.
  
• Utilities strengthen safety, reliability, business continuity management, and cost control when they modernize data architecture through targeted integrations rather than large rip-and-replace projects, and the same approach supports stronger disaster recovery planning.

Utility operators sit at the center of a grid that constantly feeds them alarms, readings, forecasts, and status changes. Their teams battle to maintain reliability while torrents of data pour out of operational technology systems, geographic information system (GIS) platforms, asset databases, and field crews. Many of those systems operate in isolation, however, hiding vital context at the exact point decisions get made. 

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems capture critical events, but the GIS view often fails to reflect them. Consequently, vital context vanishes between the control room and the field. To compound the issue, field notes rarely update the asset record, creating a one-way flow where information quietly decays. Breaking those silos is central to grid reliability solutions for electric utilities as well as long-term technology planning across operations and IT.

Closing those gaps means understanding why they persist and building a connected picture that unifies operational technology, GIS, and asset and field data.

The high cost of disconnected data

The impact of data silos becomes clear the moment a breaker trips at a substation. The SCADA system detects the event instantly, capturing critical details about voltage levels, timing, and device status. Inside the control room, operators understand the technical significance immediately.

However, because these systems operate in isolation, that rich context hits a wall. The GIS environment often remains frozen in a previous state, showing the breaker closed and the circuit energized even as alarms flood the control room. The Outage Management System (OMS) generates a ticket based on customer calls or smart meter pings, but it lacks the live diagnostic data trapped in the SCADA platform.

System disconnects create a critical information gap. Field crews receive a vague ticket describing an interruption but are forced to drive toward the site estimating likely causes instead of confirming them. Highly trained professionals effectively become manual data couriers, jumping between radios and phones to bridge the gap between disconnected screens. Every manual handoff increases response time and the chance of a missed detail. Ultimately, customers and regulators count those minutes against the utility’s performance.

Fragile integrations and security concerns

IT teams work diligently to bridge these gaps with custom integrations, and many utilities manage complex connections linking operational technology systems, GIS tools, and outage platforms. Unlike loosely coupled architectures that absorb change, however, these rigid connections require heavy attention during software upgrades.

Each time a brittle integration fails, teams scramble to rebuild it under pressure. Trust in the data pipeline suffers and users fall back on manual workarounds. Operational technology teams also hesitate to expose data beyond the control room because data security remains a legitimate concern.

Security and interoperability both matter for grid reliability solutions. A modern architecture must protect critical systems and also move information where it needs to go. Utilities that strike that balance position themselves for more efficient and safer operations.

Connected operational data as a strategic asset

Utility leaders already sit on mountains of operational data. Much of that information remains trapped in separate systems, however, preventing a shared operational picture. Connecting those diverse data streams turns raw numbers into actionable intelligence for the control room and back office.

Standardized interfaces between systems let teams view the grid holistically instead of through narrow windows. Operators work from a consolidated dashboard rather than reconciling conflicting information across multiple screens. In this connected environment, operations centers identify developing failures before they turn into large outages. 

Maintenance planners prioritize work based on real asset conditions rather than fixed schedules, spotting recurring issues along specific lines or regions with chronic vegetation encroachment. Dispatchers assign crews using spatial context along with live system status, ensuring the right resources head to the right location with full awareness of the problem.

Mobile crews and geospatial context in sync

Mobile connectivity extends that unified picture into the field. Field crews operate on the front line during storms, planned maintenance, and emergency events. Expecting them to rely on paper maps or outdated offline files undercuts their expertise and slows restoration. Mobile devices can deliver current network models, real-time values, and device histories directly to the truck.

Once core systems share a unified operational picture, accurate geospatial data becomes the organizing layer for action. Crews confirm switching operations on-screen, see what sits energized around them, and validate repairs without waiting on a radio call. 

Decisions in the truck stay aligned with the control room because everyone works from the same network model. A GIS field data platform connects location, data capture, and process management so the map reflects what actually happened in the field. Response time improves and rework drops as teams rely on a single, continuously updated view.

Data as an enterprise resource

Successful integration efforts treat operational data as an enterprise resource rather than departmental property. When teams see data as shared infrastructure, conversations shift toward access, quality, and reliability. Debates move away from territory and toward how operational technology, GIS, and field data platforms fit together.

Ownership becomes clearer as governance frameworks mature. Utilities define which systems hold the primary record for assets, network models, work history, and field observations. Field data platforms contribute timely, structured updates, while GIS and asset systems maintain the long-term record. Sensitive information stays protected without blocking the flow of accurate data.

Strong governance and clear system roles turn breaking down silos into repeatable work instead of ongoing negotiation. Operational data flows into the systems that need it and stays consistent across updates, giving the organization a grid-wide view it can actually operate against.

A practical path into modern grid reliability solutions

Modernizing data architecture works best as a series of deliberate steps, not as a single massive project. Progress starts with a clear audit of the current data landscape across operational technology, GIS, outage systems, and field tools. Teams map how information moves during everyday operations and major outage events, tracing each handoff between systems. The exercise highlights bottlenecks where systems fail to communicate or depend on manual workarounds. Each gap points to a potential integration that can reduce risk, improve response time, and strengthen disaster recovery strategies.

Leaders then prioritize integrations that deliver visible operational value quickly. Common examples include synchronizing SCADA events with GIS and outage management, or giving field crews secure mobile access to live operational data. Early wins build internal support and show how integrated workflows improve safety, reliability, and cost control.

Platform choices need to support this incremental approach instead of fighting it. Flexible field data collection and process management tools give crews room to adapt workflows without waiting on long IT cycles. When those tools integrate cleanly with operational technology, GIS, and outage systems, integration work stays manageable and operational data remains aligned across the grid.

Long-term impact on grid performance

Breaking down data silos reshapes how utilities perform for regulators, customers, and shareholders. Regulators see traceable data flows and concrete progress on reliability targets, which eases scrutiny and supports future investment cases. Customers experience fewer long outages and receive restoration estimates that line up with what actually happens in the field. Shareholders gain from leaner operations, fewer unnecessary truck rolls, and maintenance programs guided by real asset conditions instead of guesswork.

Electric utility operations networks face growing pressure from distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, and rising expectations around service quality. Utilities that treat data integration and shared operational visibility as core infrastructure build systems that absorb this complexity. Operational technology, GIS, asset records, and field data work together as a single environment, turning former friction into a reliable foundation for grid reliability and field safety.

See how Fulcrum supports connected electric utility operations

Fulcrum helps utilities connect field work with the systems that keep the grid running. Crews capture inspections, repairs, and maintenance data in real time, and supervisors can adjust forms or workflows without waiting on IT. Field information stays accurate and in sync with GIS and operational technology systems.

If you’d like to see how this works in your own environment, contact us for a free Fulcrum demo. We’ll walk through real utility scenarios and show how field data can move cleanly from the truck to the control room.