EBCE Technology and
Analytics Update
Special Board Retreat
Taj Ait-Laoussine, SVP & CIO
JULY 2023
Agenda
2 § Team Mission / Meet the Team
§ Complex Data Ecosystem
§ Modern Technology Infrastructure
§ Enabling a Data-Driven Organization: Use Cases
§ Information Technology & Security
§ Collaboration with Other CCAs
§ Looking Forward
Team Mission & Objectives
3 Mission
The Technology and Analytics team manages data, processes and systems to ensure that EBCE operations are grounded in data and driven by analytical insights. We ensure that all EBCE staff are equipped with the best and most secure information technology.
[EBCE shall] develop an in-house integrated data platform and analytical capabilities to conduct ongoing load research and analysis. - Key recommendation, EBCE Local Development Business Plan Meet the Team
4 Complex Data Ecosystem
5 PG&E
Customers
CAISO
SMUD
(Data
Manager)
Interval Meter Data ->
Billing Determinants ->
Blue (Customer) Bills ->
Customer Characteristics ->
Enrollment Elections ->
Program Enrollment <-> Calls to Action <->
-> Load Forecasts
-> Settlement Load
<- Settlement Reports
Billing Line Items ->
Tax Assessor Records Demographics
Census / Other Public Data
-> Settlement Load
<- Prices / Market Ops
Weather Data Customer Interactions -> -> Other Relevant Data Sets -> Modern Technology Infrastructure
6 ü Modern Cloud Infrastructure
ü Secure Affordable Storage
ü Powerful Query Capabilities
ü Advanced ML / AI
ü State of the Art CRM
ü Highly Configurable
ü Advanced Marketing Support
ü Low Barrier to Adoption
ü Ticket Management
ü Documentation
ü Version Control
ü Code Repository
Use Case: Accurate Load Forecasts
7 Solution:
§ Use EBCE Data Platform to create a dynamic
bottoms-up aggregation of historical load for
640K meters.
§ Estimate missing load based on past trends.
§ Incorporate Weather Forecasts.
§ Apply Machine Learning Algorithm.
Context:
§ EBCE is required to post day-ahead forecasts of
its expected hourly load to the CAISO daily.
§ EBCE load is disparate: there is no single meter
than can capture the total load of our service
area given opt outs / distribution infrastructure.
§ Historical customer meter data is available on a
meter basis, but with delays and gaps.
Target: <4%
Accuracy
Use Case: Modeling Revenue Impacts
8 Context:
§ EBCE is subject to complex regulatory
constraints that can have significant impacts on
revenues (PCIA / PG&E Rates).
§ Executive Staff and Board need to understand
potential implications of different scenarios.
§ High level analysis (Excel) can miss important
nuances.
Solution:
§ Use EBCE Data Platform to create a bottoms-up
revenue model that can model any scenario.
§ Apply cloud computing resources to enable quick
iteration and model outputs.
§ Provide iterative scenario outputs to help
understand potential revenue impacts.
How much will
revenue change
with NEM 3.0?
Policy
Follow-up
Use Case: Targeting Customers Efficiently
9 Example:
§ EBCE seeks to proactively help customers that are
at risk of frequent disconnections.
§ EBCE want to pre-emptively reach out to such
customers and focus its resources where most
needed, to prevent disconnections.
§ So how can EBCE predict customers at risk of
disconnection?
Solution:
§ Develop a machine-learning model specific to at-risk census tracts. § EBCE data infrastructure provides platform to
ingest data, perform computations, and export
candidates into program campaigns.
§ Generate target lists that contain more relevant
leads.
With Model
Without Model 16%
40%
2.5X
Help more
customers!
Use Case: Streamlining Program Enrollment
10 Context:
§ EBCE wants to encourage customers to
participate in programs without undue barriers
to enrollment.
§ Most customers don’t know their account
numbers, can’t find their bills, and give up
when the enrollment process is complicated.
§ Streamlined program enrollment = higher
participation.
Solution:
§ Reach out to customer with communications and
enrollment forms that directly link back to CRM.
§ Prefill forms with customer enrollment codes to
avoid need for any account lookup or complex
form instructions.
§ Make forms as simple as possible!
Complex CRM Logic Simpler Customer Experience
=
Exceed
Enrollment
Objectives!
Use Case: Fast & Innovative Data-Driven Actions
11 Context:
§ EBCE must at times quickly respond to changing
market conditions or regulatory calls to action (for
example – help mitigate a heat wave).
§ Response often requires quick data analysis and
ready access to data insights.
§ Innovation is key – data doesn’t always exist in the
format you want.
Solution:
§ EBCE GCP platform provides quick and
comprehensive access to entire EBCE data lake in
one centralized location .
§ Industrial scale computational power with
BigQuery.
§ Nimble response enabled through technology.
How can we
help avoid
blackouts in
this heat wave?
Targeted Call to Action
for likely AC Users:
Conservation
Measurable
Impact!
Information Technology: Security
12 § Ensuring device / network security
§ Enforcing customer confidentiality policies
§ Maintaining key policy documents:
§ Security, Appropriate Use, Generative AI, Data Retention, Credential Policies § Incident Response Plan
§ Disaster Recovery Plan
§ Cyber Insurance
§ Providing & supporting a modern security infrastructure The team is also in charge of all things IT, providing support and infrastructure with a focus on security.
Collaboration with Other CCAs
13 § Encouraging the adoption of efficient cloud platforms § Providing support to other CCAs to replicate EBCE processes § Developing shared resources
§ Pushing for a common ecosystem
As a leader in the space, EBCE is pushing for the adoption of CCA-wide best practices in Data Analytics:
As CCAs push for data innovation in our industry in a concerted manner, we gain greater leverage on the regulatory front.
Looking Forward
14 § Supporting increasingly complex customer journeys
§ Developing an EBCE Customer Portal?
§ Supporting real-time pricing / interval billing
§ Cost-of-Service modeling
§ Applying ML /AI technologies
§ Staying one step ahead in security
§ Expanding CCA collaborations / leadership
Questions / Discussion
15 Thank you!