Beyond The Buzzword: How Utility Operators Can Use Big Data For Better Asset Management, Operations, And Customer Engagement

Big Data is more than a marketing buzzword. It’s become be an essential tool for helping utility operators prioritize capital investments, manage network assets, and provide a higher level of service to customers.

The term “Big Data” is everywhere lately, from industries like healthcare, IT, and finance to water and wastewater. Data collection itself, of course, is nothing new for utilities. The vast majority of water and wastewater utilities in the United States are automated within their treatment plants, and utility operators have long used data to optimize plant operations, water quality, and energy consumption. So how is Big Data different, and why should utility operators care?