Establishing the SGIG project management office

Roadmap for Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) projects

Companies moving forward with their SGIG projects need to develop a robust plan with critical milestones to ensure a successful and cost effective program—and to comply with the DOE reporting requirements. Success in implementing this SGIG plan requires a well-established project management office (PMO) to actively manage the projects.

 

Based on years of extensive engagement with industry leaders in electric utility smart grid, KEMA strongly believes that a methodical project management approach is essential for successfully completing SGIG projects. We offer highly effective project management principles that have been tested and field-proven through successful completion of major implementation projects around the world.

 

The SGIG project management office (PMO)

Through the PMO, utilities can ensure that all the support services which touch the project are fully prepared to deal with the increased volume of work. And there needs to be an active quality assurance (QA) and acceptance program in place to manage third-party vendors and monitor true project progress.    

 

KEMA helps clients review and optimize, or establish, the PMO function for multiple or major capital asset classes. This increases the efficiency of the deployment and management of scare capital resources— enabling on-time, on-budget delivery of high quality projects in a consistent, predictable manner and that meet the original defined scope. Our PMO process generally includes visioning for PMO, assessing the current and future state of PMO and implementing capital project PMO.

 

KEMA SGIG project successes – solutions from a position of knowledge

KEMA has been working extensively the nation’s leaders in grid modernization for over three decades—from substation and distribution automation, smart meters and advance metering infrastructure, to smart grid and intelligent network and communications architecture planning, design and integration.

 

We have been deeply involved in supporting applications to the DOE SGIG program. We provided multiple clients a wide range of support services including application coordination, project definition and planning, budget analysis, outcomes estimation, and federal government liaison.

 

Applicants supported by KEMA were awarded funds totaling approximately $500 million, representing 13 percent of the total DOE SGIG budget. In supporting SGIG applications, KEMA has gained invaluable experience working with DOE, understanding program goals and processes, and crafting solutions that are beneficial to all participants and stakeholders.