Development of an information technology strategy and architecture for energy delivery utility mergers

This paper presents the methodology and process for developing an integrated information system strategy and architecture to facilitate and leverage the combined engineering and operations of merged energy delivery utilities. Information technology management of a utility merger faces a multitude of challenges, coping with differences in business and operational processes, as well as differences in existing IT infrastructures and ongoing IT initiatives. At the same time, IT has ever-increasing pressure to help the utility be more competitive in the deregulated environment. This paper is about the successful management of these challenges and pressures. The authors explain the methods and their experiences with several utilities involved in mergers. The paper covers the integration of various information systems for managing energy delivery. It explores the critical success factors, such as business drivers and time to capture the benefits, necessary adjustments to business processes, data and system conversion requirements, and necessary support of management and end users