Trilliant unveils analytics platform to cut utility losses
Trilliant has released Analytics as a Service (AaaS), a subscription-based solution designed to help utilities enhance their ability to analyse and forecast using data collected from a range of sources.
The AaaS platform is cloud-independent and brings together Trilliant's analytical artificial intelligence and machine learning offerings. Utilities can use AaaS alongside either Trilliant's own systems such as the Prime Energy Suite and Unity Suite Head End System or integrate with other third-party software tools. The analysis aims to support improved automation, forecasting, decision-making, and reduction in energy losses.
By processing data gathered from devices across infrastructure systems, AaaS serves to transform raw data into actionable information, supporting decisions that can improve operational efficiency and customer service for utility providers.
Cristian Valdés, Director, Product Management at Trilliant, commented on current data challenges for utilities:
"Data is one of the most valuable assets for utilities, but many are unable to take full advantage of it due to limited resources. We know customers are facing many challenges as they look to improve the customer experience, optimize the grid, and more, and they have been looking for a way to better use data sources. With AaaS, utilities have the ability to more accurately collect information and use it to automate models and forecasting, saving them time and improving decision-making. Additionally, customers are not limited by any existing tools they have in place, or their environment. With the Power of Choice, they're free to leverage AaaS in the way that works best for them."
The company believes this approach offers customers the opportunity to harness more value from existing and future data sources without overhauling their current technology setups. Data models and analytical outcomes from operational systems can be taken into AaaS, where they are further refined and made available for visualisation in standard business intelligence tools.
Non-technical loss detection
One particular area highlighted by Trilliant is non-technical loss (NTL) detection. NTL includes losses in a power grid that are not due to technological inefficiencies, which often stem from energy theft or malfunctioning meters. Using information from smart meters and other sources, AaaS is able to identify sites with a high likelihood of tampering or misconfiguration by looking for unusual voltage or power readings. Utilities can then follow up on these identified locations for verification and remedy.
An example provided involved a utility in the Caribbean, which piloted Trilliant's AaaS to improve its ability to detect NTL more accurately. The pilot aimed to cut energy losses and safeguard revenue by focusing inspections only on meters with a high probability of NTL, lowering the cost of false positives and unnecessary site visits. With AaaS deployed, the utility could better distinguish between accounts with differing levels of NTL risk based on hourly energy and voltage measurements. Trilliant reported that, as a result, AaaS reached an average accuracy of 80 per cent, which is described as a significant improvement over other solutions available in the market. The company also validated the improved precision of the system against known irregular accounts.
AaaS supports both cloud-based and on-premises implementations, allowing customers flexibility irrespective of their existing IT environments. The service is compatible with providers such as Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. Trilliant confirmed it is currently working with an electricity authority in Asia to install AaaS as an on-premises solution.
As utilities worldwide continue to adapt to greater demands in operational efficiency and regulatory compliance, data-driven services such as Trilliant's AaaS are increasingly being adopted to address issues including energy loss, asset management, and informed planning.
