PowerOn Implementation AEP Texas DDC SWEDE 2006

AEP Texas DDC Thirty-one Dispatchers Serve: Thirty-one Dispatchers Serve: – 850,000 Customers – 97,000 Square Miles – 859 Employees – 373 Communities – 96 Counties

OMS Overview CADOPS/Companions CADOPS/Companions – Customized Crew Mgmt/Call Handling – Large Majority of Customers Unmapped – Dispatch Friendly Flexibility – Limited Map Detail – Easily Customized by User Group

OMS Overview PowerOn (Implemented February 2004) PowerOn (Implemented February 2004) – Vendor Product – 90% of Customers Mapped – Excellent Map – Poor Unmapped Outage Handling – Limited Customization

New OMS Implementation Keys to Success Keys to Success – Appropriate Hardware – Stable Software – Accurate Maps & Customer Ties – User Acceptance & Knowledge

IssuesIssues Customer Tie Accuracy Customer Tie Accuracy Map Quality Map Quality Dispatcher Acceptance Dispatcher Acceptance Training Training Leadership Support Leadership Support Programmatic Show Stoppers Programmatic Show Stoppers

SolutionsSolutions PowerOn Needs & Tasks (POINT) Team PowerOn Needs & Tasks (POINT) Team – Executive Committee of Experts – All Affected Areas – Met as often as needed – Issue Identification/Resolution Sub Teams Sub Teams – POST – PowerOn Setup Team – POUT – PowerOn User Test

Solutions - Continued Mapping Issues Mapping Issues – Customer Ties Dispatchers to Identify “Bad” Tie Issues Dispatchers to Identify “Bad” Tie Issues Database for Communication with GIS Services Database for Communication with GIS Services – Newly Mapped Circuits Dispatchers Checked Circuits in Smallworld Dispatchers Checked Circuits in Smallworld Used Database to report discrepancies Used Database to report discrepancies

Solutions - Continued Dispatcher Acceptance Dispatcher Acceptance – PO Champion on each shift Early training to help shift accept PO Early training to help shift accept PO Became part of POINT Team Became part of POINT Team – Communication POINT Notes, Demonstrations, Night Meetings POINT Notes, Demonstrations, Night Meetings – Lead Dispatcher Meeting Demonstrations Monthly to familiarize with PO Monthly to familiarize with PO

Solutions - Continued Dispatcher Training Dispatcher Training – CADOPS/PowerOn Comparison Document – Weekly PO Topic Short PowerPoint Presentation Short PowerPoint Presentation – Early Training Environment Supplemented with Shift PO Champions Supplemented with Shift PO Champions – Training Classes Four Day Class – Included Workarounds Four Day Class – Included Workarounds

Solutions - Continued Leadership Support Leadership Support – Lead Dispatchers & Supervisors Set the Example Set the Example Scheduled for Two Training Weeks Scheduled for Two Training Weeks – Included Leading a Training Session Communication Conduit to Crews Communication Conduit to Crews Making “Champions” available Making “Champions” available Positive Attitude Positive Attitude

Solutions - Continued Defined AEP Texas “Show Stoppers” Defined AEP Texas “Show Stoppers” – Included: Ability to Charge Customer through PO Ability to Charge Customer through PO Compatible with Mobile Data Computer Compatible with Mobile Data Computer Manual Feeder Number Entry Manual Feeder Number Entry

ConclusionsConclusions Implemented in February 2004 Implemented in February 2004 – Grades: Hardware/Dispatcher Acceptance: B Hardware/Dispatcher Acceptance: B Stable Software: C Stable Software: C Ties/Mapping: D- Ties/Mapping: D- – Lessons Learned It all depends on the data. It all depends on the data. Everyone needs multiple training sessions. Everyone needs multiple training sessions. Continue POINT after implementation date. Continue POINT after implementation date.

Q & A