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  September Member Spotlight: Martin Richardson

  Posted by Kevin Praet (Adm) on September 1, 2020 at 4:07 am

  Martin Richardson is an active UAI member and provides outstanding influence and contributions to the UAI community through any of our multiple channels, including, but not limited to engagement on UAI Connect, volunteering with UAI, involvement and/or leadership in monthly Community Conversations, and/or speaking at UAI events, plus so much.  As thanks, we are featuring him in the UAI Member Spotlight.

   

  Disguised as a Programmer Analyst, Project Manager and Business Architect, Martin Richardson has been working on analytics since 1994 when he worked for West Coast Energy developing GIS models showing where to build Oil and Gas Pipelines in British Columbia. Martin ran a consulting company and analyzed beer sales using demographics and GIS mapping, PST forecasted remittances, ICBC technology usage, sales and marketing funnel statistics, ISO Grid utilization in Chicago and spot price forecasting, health spending for the Ministry Of Children and Families, claims payout forecasts for AXA Insurance, and now utility analytics for FortisBC.  To Martin’s analytical mind, they are all just patterns in numbers and cool pictures.

   

  Kevin: How did you get into the utility analytics industry?

  Member: I worked on a co-op term for West Coast Energy in Calgary (1994) developing GIS analytics that took exploratory dig information (“wild cat digs”), calculated a z factor then plotted results using colour gradients on a GIS map.  This showed exactly where to plan pipelines without any manual intervention or bias.

   

  Kevin: What project have you enjoyed working on most in your career?

  Member:  I developed software that could detect and help avoid a “brown out” power outage in the US.  The product remotely controlled heating, lighting and AC loads for university campuses, warehouses, department stores and could power them down if needed within 30 minutes.  Additionally, this was used to pre-heat and pre-cool to reduce power usage during price spikes producing huge savings.

   

  Kevin: What has been your biggest professional challenge and how did you work through it?

  Member:  I have both lost jobs and laid people off being on both sides of takeovers. Having a job you enjoy and excel at being taken away without warning is a harsh experience.

   

  Kevin: If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before entering the utility analytics industry, what would it be?

  Member: Be patient, because things move at a glacial pace. Coming from private, unregulated industry into a regulated one was a challenge to change my expectations on timing. Projects that would usually take months and cost thousands would take years and cost hundreds of thousands.

   

  Kevin: What would you like to talk to fellow colleagues and members about in UAI Connect? Or, what issues or topics would you like to see more discussions on in UAI Connect?

  Member: More on the goals of organizations with respect to analytics. I believe many go into the area without a defined goal such as saving O&M.

   

  Kevin: Thank you so much for sharing with us and for being a highly engaged member of UAI! Do you have any final thoughts, ideas, or comments you would like to share with your fellow UAI members?

  Member: Stay in touch with other utilities in UAI.  There is always someone who has gone through, is going through or is getting ready for the same thing you are worried about.  Ask for help and it will be given.

  ——————————
  Kevin Praet
  Membership Coordinator
  Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
  Boulder CO
  315-440-3033
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  Kevin Praet (Adm) replied 4 years, 2 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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