Pepco Selects Orbital for Mobile Dispatch System in Nation's Capital
Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that its Transportation Management Systems division (Orbital TMS), a leader in mobile work force management systems, has been selected by Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) to supply an advanced mobile dispatch system to assist with efforts to quickly restore electric power to utility customers during periodic outages.
According to Pepco Distribution System Operations Division Manager Mike Maxwell, "The Mobile Dispatch System will improve the overall efficiency of our dispatch operations, allowing for quicker response and more efficient use of our resources in both normal operating conditions and during widespread outages. Mobile dispatch is also one of the tools we are employing that will help us provide better estimations of power restoration times to our customers. Additional benefits will be realized though the substantial reduction of paperwork and the freeing of existing voice channels for more critical communications."
Orbital TMS' state-of-the-art Field Service Management System (FSMS) provides real-time vehicle position information via satellite technology, which is integrated with terrestrial-based communications and an automated scheduling package. The company' system will allow Pepco to improve scheduling, dispatching and communicating with its mobile field service work force and its fleet of 120 service and supervisory/support vehicles.
Orbital TMS' FSMS consists of three fully integrated products: ORBPLAN-FS scheduling, ORBCAD-FS mobile dispatching, and ORBTRAC-FS automatic vehicle location. The company' solution for Pepco's mobile work force uses a combination of satellite-based vehicle positioning technology through the U.S. Government' Global Positioning System (GPS), and Pepco's private mobile radio communications network.
Pepco's power outage management system will analyze reported problems and create field orders that are sent to Orbital' FSMS system. The computer-assisted scheduling package will then help dispatchers make better assignments of work orders to available crews. Orbital TMS' mobile data technology and in-vehicle mobile computers will dramatically improve communications between Pepco's dispatchers and field crews by replacing the slower, voice-based dispatching that Pepco now uses. Once work is completed, crews will report the order status back to the dispatchers using their mobile computer. Orbital TMS' system can also show dispatchers the exact location of vehicles on map displays, enabling work to be assigned to the nearest crews.
Speaking for Orbital, Mr. David L. Mathison, Vice President and General Manager of the company' TMS division, said, "We are very excited about adding Pepco to our rapidly expanding client base in the utility industry. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Pepco, helping them provide the best possible service to their customers.