Here’s a solution: Get some of the world’s leading experts to coach you. And while you’re at it, make sure those experts give you processes and techniques that have been proven in the real world.

Here’s how to do it at no cost. While space lasts, we’re offering free attendance at a Webinar taking place Jan. 20 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern (10:30 a.m. Pacific). High Performance in Data Management – Moving from Overload to Insights features a panel of experienced industry professionals who have actually built state-of-the-art Smart Grid data management systems. Our panelists are:

· Dr. Jeffrey Taft, Global Smart Grid Chief Architect, Accenture

· Randy Huston, Program Delivery Executive, SmartGridCity™, Xcel Energy

· Peter Belknap, Director, Product Management, Oracle SOA Integration, Oracle Corp.

These guys are the real deal, as you’ll hear the moment they start to talk. Nor is this Webinar just about listening; you’ll be able to type in questions at any time. Those that aren’t answered during the session will be discussed in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document we’ll distribute back to all registrants. If you want to ask questions in advance, just scroll to the bottom and use the Talk Back form.

No, Seriously — Do You Realize What’s About to Hit You?

One of the most daunting challenges facing utilities is the surge of data that will result as we modernize. You can easily be faced with the managing thousands of times (yes I said thousands) more data than you do today.

With such a big wave about to hit the shore, we decided that data management had to be the first in our new Webinar series. And we decided those Webinars had to be more than just theory, that they had to bring learnings from folks who’ve done it before — the roll-up-your-shirt-sleeves, skinned-knuckles pioneers who’ve learned what really works.

(Here’s a shout out to Accenture for underwriting the costs, so we can bring in world-class experts without charging you the typical $200 or so.)

Details On This Not-To-Miss Session

Again, the date is Wednesday, Jan. 20. It starts at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time (10:30 a.m. Pacific time). And here’s where you can register while space remains (first come, first served).

I’ll be moderating the Webinar, which we are presenting in association with Accenture (in my view the world’s most experienced Smart Grid consulting firm). We’ve built this Webinar so you will walk away with ideas you can put to work immediately. For instance, our panelists will talk about misconceptions that have tripped up others. Things like:

· Why meter data is probably NOT your biggest problem

· Why traditional “business analysis” is NOT enough

· Why bandwidth may NOT be your biggest communications problem

· Why technology is NOT your biggest challenge (it’s organizational issues, and you’ll learn what works)

Our experts will also drill down on the nuts-and-bolts stuff you need to make it through the data management maze. Like the observability strategies that get the data you need while minimizing equipment investments; and the blueprinting process that is the quickest path to success. At the end of the hour you should know:

· How to move to the real-time grid without redoing all your back-end systems

· How to gain business value early without waiting years for benefits

· How to build an integration platform that allows you to upgrade on a modular, as-needed basis

· How to understand and implement event processing as a key part of your total solution

(Just getting a heads up on the often-ignored event processing issue is worth the price of admission. Oh wait… it’s free thanks to Accenture. Well, you get the idea. These really are hard-earned lessons from the real world.)

I hope you’ll be joining us on Jan. 20. There will be time for questions during the webinar, but if what I’ve told you here already brings some to mind, feel free to include them in a Talk Back (see form below) and we’ll pass them along to our panelists.

The Coming Smart Grid Data Surge

That Smart Grid Data Surge We Mentioned Earlier? You Can’t Ignore It

How Privacy (or Lack of It) Could Sabotage the Grid

Why Your Grid Is Already Smart (and How to Unlock its Data Treasure)

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