5 Unique Mobility Challenges for Electric Distribution Cooperatives

With large geographical coverage challenges, rapidly advancing technology solutions and a responsibility to deliver the lowest cost rates to members, the demands surrounding mobility solutions are unique for U.S. Distribution Cooperatives. Below are five particular challenges specifically related to Cooperatives’ increasing usage of mobility solutions and questions about these challenges that you should be able to answer.
 

1. Active field forces amplify the need for effective mobility oversight

Servicing sparsely populated territories results in a sizeable field force with increasing communication and mobility data demands. Are asset inventories accurate? Is data usage managed and monitored closely?

2. Financial discipline is required to curtail the impact of high growth expense areas on member rates

For utilities, Mobility is one of the largest and fastest growing IT expense categories. Are you sure you aren’t spending more than you should on carrier invoices?

3. Effective expense controls and processes need to accompany Smart Meter and AMI rollouts

The rapid growth in machine-to-machine/telemetry deployments presents cost exposures in the absence of real-time data management practices. Are you using the best telemetry pooling plans? Are you making real time buffer adjustments before the cycle closes each month?

4. Limited staff time and experience to effectively manage and control mobility expense growth

A constantly changing array of rate plans coupled with dynamic fluctuations in usage patterns magnifies the potential for inflated wireless invoices that often goes unnoticed. How often do you evaluate your data pool sizes in relation to usage?

5. Subsidizing employee personal usage due to indiscernible personal versus business data usage

Expanding usage of data-consuming mobile apps along with carrier pricing schemes which don’t distinguish between peak and off-peak usage can lead to wireless invoices steadily climbing. How much of your total data usage occurs off hours by your employees?
 

How well are you handling these challenges?

To support distribution cooperatives in finding any gaps in their mobile cost management processes, we have developed an instant assessment tool, MobilAlertDIY™ that can help you check your success in meeting the challenges above.  We have used our extensive experience with Utility companies over the past 13 years to model ideal mobile costs. With just a few key statistics from your monthly carrier invoice we provide an instant comparison. The difference between the ideal cost and your actual cost will give you a preliminary assessment of just how well you are doing.  There is no charge and no commitment for this instant assessment.

Since member-owned cooperatives owe it to their members to discover if spending problems exist, in just minutes MobilAlertDIY™ will answer any questions you may have on mobile costs. Take the mobile cost saving challenge today.  It’s simple, it’s fast, it’s self-service, and it is free. 

Click for an Instant Assessment Demo