Weekly Brief

The Rapid Adoption of New Technologies

Kristi Sterling, Chief Information Officer at Snohomish County PUD

Kristi Sterling, Chief Information Officer at Snohomish County PUD

Kristi is an accomplished leader in the field of information technology. She is currently the CIO for Snohomish County Public Utility District. With more than 20 years’ experience in the utility industry, she’s led many transformational technology programs. She’s held several leadership positions within the PUD including senior manager of the Applications, Program Management, Data & Analytics, and architecture teams. Kristi holds a BA Degree from the University of Colorado and an MBA of Information Technology Management from WGU. Kristi began her career in the utility industry at a public utility in Colorado. She’s also held leadership positions in the retail and airline industries.

Following is the conversation that we had with Kristi.

Could you provide an overview of your role and responsibilities within the company?

As CIO at Snohomish County Public Utility District, I am responsible for overseeing the utility’s information technology strategy and operations. I work to ensure our ITsolutions meet the needs of our customers by ensuring our systems are reliable, and secure. This includes managing the utility's IT infrastructure, systems, applications, data& analytics, and PMO. As a member of the executive leadership team, I collaborate closely with my executive team partners to align IT initiatives with the utility's overall strategic objectives. By leveraging technology, my team helps to support operations, streamline processes, enhance decision-making, drive operational excellence, and position us for future technology innovations.

The role of CIO in public utilities is increasingly more demanding and exciting in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. We are seeing rapid adoption of new technologies in the industry related to grid modernization, customer experience, data transformation and more. As the CIO, I ensure we are leveraging emerging technologies to enhance the utility's operations and customer experience.

What are some of the key challenges you face?

There are many challengeswhich make the job and our industry interesting. Our team does an exceptional job meeting challenges as they arise. The pace of change and recruiting in a competitive market has been particularly challenging. The rapid change in the industry and new developments in technology aren’t just happening in one area of our business. Across the board we are seeing changes from operations technologies, customer expectations, legislation, productivity tools, just to name a few.

I’ve seen the enthusiasm for change dramatically increases, particularly at Snohomish County PUD. We have a culture of continual improvement and focus on ambitious strategic objectives which means we regularly have numerous large initiatives, programs, and various projects in flight at any given time. A large percentage of those projects are dependent on new technologies or enhancing existing applications. It’s challenging to balance the workload of change and innovation while at the same time managing technical debt, security, and compliance requirements. However, we have a dedicated team of exceptional people that always rise to the challenge. Meeting the extensive demands is further complicated by the need to be fiscally responsible. As a public utility we work hard to run on a tight budget. We understand the need to operate in a way that keeps our rates low.

“We are seeing rapid adoption of new technologies in the industry related to grid modernization, customer experience, data transformation and more.”

Another challenge we face is in recruitingfor somekey technical roles. The Pacific Northwest has many technology giants. As a result, it can be hard to compete for talent. However, we’ve been successful in attracting an exceptional group of talented IT professionals. An important aspect of our recruiting and retention strategy is our focus on employees. We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within the IT department and throughout the organization. We understand the importance of creating an inclusive and supportive work environment that encourages the contributions of all employees.

What would you say are some of the futuristic trends that will have an impact in the next 18-24 months?

I am excited about the future trends in technology for the utility industry. These future trends are already well underway.

Generative AI:

One trend that has many IT departments talking and planning is the proliferation of Generative AI. Like many of our peers, we are working to establish the necessary protections while identifying use cases for these new tools.

Renewable Energy Integration, Battery Storage and Grid Modernization:

Utilities are at the forefront of helping to achieve renewable energy goals. We are increasingly integrating renewable energy sources into our power energy mix. Snohomish County PUD has many initiatives such as our Arlington Microgrid and Clean Energy Center project which incorporates new technologies and approach for grid resiliencyand renewable energy integration. The project includes a solar array with smart inverters, lithium-ion battery storage system, and several vehicle-to-grid charging stations for use with our electric fleet vehicles.

We also have various grid modernization projects in progress. New technologies that have become a part of our operations include:

● Energy storage systems

● Our Arlington Microgrid

● Distribution Automation (DA) expansion

● Customer load management and demand response pilots

Smart Grids and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI):

We recently completed the implementation of our AMI technology. We are starting the deployment of electric and water meters. With the AMI technologies rolling out we can begin focusing on new tools for customers to help with their energy conservation. We can also provide innovative rate plans, improved outage response and more.

Data and Analytics (D&A):

We are gaining insights from vast amounts of data collected from smart meters, sensors, and many other sources. These technologies support the various business cases from optimization of energy generation and distribution, predicting and preventing equipment failures, and improving customer service. We have an outstandingD&A team that partners with experts from across the company who are utilizing data in new and creative ways. Our team created a Data & Analytics University tobuild partnerships with employeesacross the company with a passion and need for data.The purpose is expanding analytic knowledge and capabilities throughout the company.

Electrification of Transportation:

There’s much talk in the industry about the impacts of EVs. Several years ago, we were talking about the decrease in energy consumption due to effective conservation efforts. Now, we’re incorporating electrification and the resulting increase in demand into our newresource plans and technology roadmaps. We are helping support our customers and communities by investing in thefutureof EV charging infrastructure.

These trends and many more are impacting the industry. As a CIO, it is crucial for me to keepup with of the trends as I support my team in leveraging technology to drive innovation.

What advice would you give to young professionals who are interested in pursuing a similar career, and what qualities do you think are essential for success in this field?

I believe the foundation of success is a passion for continual improvement, building relationships, and exceptional leadership skills. Those combined with technical skills and industry knowledge are all essential qualities.

Beyond technical skills, it’s important to gain diverse experience. Seek opportunities to work outside your domain whether through working on teams, special projects, or committees. Taking on cross-functional roles, or leading projects with a wide range of stakeholders allows you to understand business operations in more depth. It can also provide visibility and access to leaders who you can learn from and who can support your career aspirations. Overall, it will help you develop a well-rounded skill set and a broader perspective both of which are crucial for an executive role.

Continuously learn through formal and informal studies. Business is constantly evolving. It’s important to stay up to date on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. Invest in your learning and professional development. The ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and business models is essential for success.

Seek mentors and become comfortable networking.You will benefit from mentors whether they are through formal programs or informal connections. Additionally, build a strong professional network. Those connections can provide valuable support as you work through current challenges and provide new opportunities for future career growth.

People can do many things to position themselves for success in pursuing an executive career or CIO position. Remember to stay passionate, be proactive, and seize opportunities for growth and development.