ARCOS is implementing its ARCOS Callout and Scheduling Suite for Marietta, Georgia-based Cobb Electric Membership Corporation to improve the efficiency with which the cooperative notifies its 277-person electric operations division for emergency, after-hours work. Cobb EMC expects to begin using the ARCOS system during the third quarter of 2015.
“The primary reason we’re putting the ARCOS system in place is to improve the operating efficiencies of our manual callout procedure,” said Alan Freeman, associate vice president of Operations for Cobb EMC. “ARCOS will also help us identify the need for outside resources earlier.”
The cloud-based callout solution, hosted by ARCOS, frees dispatchers and supervisors from combing through electronic spreadsheets and files for the names of linemen who are available to repair transformers, reconnect lines and fix other power interruptions. The ARCOS callout solution locates and assembles utility repair crews after normal business hours, while factoring in any work agreements dictating the order of calls.
According to ECT.coop, “Other utilities, including cooperatives, are adopting the [ARCOS] technology. Pedernales Electric Cooperative introduced the system in May 2013.”
“We are always looking to improve and provide even better, safer and more reliable service,” said Wayne McKee, vice president of operations for Johnson City, Texas-based Pedernales. ECT.coop reported that “When a recent storm hit Pedernales’ Marble Falls service area, six crews were en route to repairs within about 10 minutes.”
Putting the ARCOS technology in place, notes Freeman, will replace the current crew callout procedure that is a “manual ‘daisy chain’ callout process.”
“At times, it can be difficult to reach all personnel in a timely manner,” Freeman added.
According to the Cobb EMC website, the company is a not-for-profit electric cooperative that delivers electricity to more than 177,000 residential and commercial members in the Georgia counties of Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton, and Paulding.
