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  • How to install Windows 8 to dual boot with Windows 7/XP?

    - by Gopinath
    Microsoft released Windows 8 beta(customer preview) few days ago and yesterday I had a chance to install it on one of my home computers. My home PC is running on Windows 7 and I would like to install Windows 8 side by side so that I can dual boot. The installation process was pretty simple and with in 40 minutes my PC was up and running with beautiful Windows 8 OS along with Windows 7. In this post I want to share my experience and provide information for you to install Windows 8. 1. Identify a drive  with at least 20 GB of space – Identify one of the drives on your hard disk that can be used to install Windows 8. Delete all the files or preferably quick format it and make sure that it has at least 20 GB of free space. Rename the drive name to Windows 8 so that it will be helpful to identify the destination drive during installation process. 2. Download Windows 8 installer ISO– Go to Microsoft’s website and download Windows 8 ISO file which is approximately 2.5 GB file(32 bit English version). 3. Create Windows 8 bootable USB/DVD – Its advised to launch Windows 8 installer using a bootable USB or DVD for enabling dual boot instead of unzipping the ISO file and launching the setup from Windows 7 OS. Also consider creating bootable USB instead of bootable DVD to save a disc. To create bootable USB/DVD follow these steps Download and install the Windows 7 DVD / USB tool available at microsoftstore.com Launch the utility and follow the onscreen instructions where you would be asked to choose the ISO file(point to file downloaded in step 2) and choose a USB drive or DVD as destination. The onscreen instructions are very simple and you would be able to complete it in 20 minutes time. So now you have Windows 8 installation setup on your USB drive or DVD. 4. Change BIOS settings to boot from USB/DVD – Restart your PC and open BIOS configuration settings key by pressing F2 or  F12 or DELETE key (the key depends on your computer manufacturer). Go to boot sequence options and make sure that USB/DVD is ahead of hard disk in the boot sequence. Save the settings and restart the PC. 5. Install Windows 8 – After the restart you should be straight into Windows 8 installation screen. Follow the onscreen instructions and install Windows 8 on the drive that is identified during step 1. When prompted for product serial key enter NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8. The installer would restart couple of times during the installation process. On the first restart, make sure that you remove USB/DVD. Windows 8 installation process is pretty simple and very quick. The complete process of creating bootable USB and installation should complete in 30 – 40 minutes time.

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  • As a game developer, which data structure use for develop the game? [duplicate]

    - by Rizwanabbasi
    This question already has an answer here: When should vector/list be used? 5 answers We are developing a game for bank robbery. The game plots a bank robbery. Lots of people witness that robbery. Our game will load the lists of suspected offenders while the players (witnesses) will have to identify the offenders of this robbery. Game should load list of offenders to identify the one as quickly as possible. Admin can add/remove offenders in the lists and two or more lists of offenders can also be merged into one (to show it to the player). As a game developer, which data structure we should use for develop the game? Justify your selection with solid arguments. Remember the most critical requirement is that the list should load super fast.

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  • Does the keyword blog in url impove seo?

    - by slow diver
    I have seen a couple of site which has high number of hits. They are mostly tutorial sites and blogs that address software issue/errors. I wonder if the kewybord "blog" has a very positive effect in SEO? In my own site, I have install word press in root folder to avoid any blog keyword. I also did this to keep urls shallow (deeper url are not good for SEO). But I may want to think on it again. The sites I am referring too are http://blog.sqlauthority.com http://veerasundar.com/blog/2011/11/making-xampp-to-serve-any-directory-outside-htdocs/ I know there are standard (sort of) class names or ID that identify different contents and makes it easier for the search engine to identify contents like, "container", "menu". The use of word "blog" would mean this is about dicussing/tutoring something and have a very positive effect on SEO?

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  • How can I most efficiently communicate my personal code of ethics, and its implications?

    - by blueberryfields
    There is a lot to the definition of a professional. There are many questions here asking how to identify components of what is essentially a professional programmer - how do you identify or communicate expertise, specialization, high quality work, excellent skills in relation to the profession. I am specifically looking for methods to communicate a specific component, and I quote from wikipedia: A high standard of professional ethics, behavior and work activities while carrying out one's profession (as an employee, self-employed person, career, enterprise, business, company, or partnership/associate/colleague, etc.). The professional owes a higher duty to a client, often a privilege of confidentiality, as well as a duty not to abandon the client just because he or she may not be able to pay or remunerate the professional. Often the professional is required to put the interest of the client ahead of his own interests. How can I most efficiently communicate my professionalism, in the spirit of the quote above, to current and potential clients and employers?

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  • Which data structure you will use to for a witness list?

    - by mateen
    I'm making a game where the plot is a bank robbery. Lots of people witness that robbery. The game will load a list of suspects, while the players (witnesses) will have to identify the suspects of this robbery. The game should load a list of suspects to identify the one as quickly as possible. Admin can add/remove suspects in the lists and two or more lists of suspects can also be merged into one (to show it to the player). The question is which data structure will be suitable to develop the lists?

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  • How to add support for the JPEG image format

    - by Samir Sabri
    After installing Imagemagick, I've tested it with jpg image, like this: identify 1.jpg But, I got this result: identify: no decode delegate for this image format `1.jpg' @ error/constitute.c/ReadImage/550. Then, I tried to add support for JPEG format by: yum install libjpeg libjpeg-devel but, I got: Setting up Install Process No package libjpeg available. No package libjpeg-devel available. Nothing to do I thought I need to update the apt-get, I did: apt-get install libjpeg libjpeg-devel but, I got: Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done E: Unable to locate package libjpeg E: Unable to locate package libjpeg-devel Is there an easy way to get those libraries installed ? I am using Ubuntu 12.04.

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  • Finding Jobs

    This article from Tushar Kanti will help you identify the list of all the Jobs related to a Table/View/Procedure.

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  • After how much line of code a function should be break down?

    - by Sumeet
    While working on existing code base, I usually come across procedures that contain Abusive use of IF and Switch statements. The procedures consist of overwhelming code, which I think require re-factoring badly. The situation gets worse when I identify that some of these are recursive as well. But this is always a matter of debate as the code is working fine and no one wants to wake up the dragon. But, everyone accepts it is very expensive code to manage. I am wondering if are any recommendations to determine if a particular Method is a culprit and needs a revisit/rewrite , so that it can broken down or polymophized in an effective manner. Are there any Metrics (like no. of lines in procedure) that can be used to identify such segment of code. The checklist or advice to convince everyone, will be great!

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  • How to efficiently map tokens to code in a script interpreter?

    - by lithander
    I'm writing an interpreter for a simple scripting language where each line is a complete, executable command. (Like the instructions in assembler) When parsing a line I have to map the requested command to actual code. My current solution looks like this: std::string op, param1, param2; //parse line, identify op, param1, param2 ... //call command specific code if(op == "MOV") ExecuteMov(AsNumber(param1)); else if(op == "ROT") ExecuteRot(AsNumber(param1)); else if(op == "SZE") ExecuteSze(AsNumber(param1)); else if(op == "POS") ExecutePos((AsNumber(param1), AsNumber(param2)); else if(op == "DIR") ExecuteDir((AsNumber(param1), AsNumber(param2)); else if(op == "SET") ExecuteSet(param1, AsNumber(param2)); else if(op == "EVL") ... The more commands are supported the more string comparisions I'll have to do to identify and call the associated method. Can you point me to a more efficient implementation in the described scenario?

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  • Testing To Prevent Cascading Bugs

    - by jfrankcarr
    Yesterday, Twitter was hit with a "Cascading Bug" as described in this blog post: A “cascading bug” is a bug with an effect that isn’t confined to a particular software element, but rather its effect “cascades” into other elements as well. I've seen this kind of bug, on a smaller scale of course, on some projects I've worked on. They can be difficult to identify in dev/test environments, even within a test driven development environment. My questions are... What are some strategies you use, beyond the basic TDD and standard regression testing, to identify and prevent the potential trouble points that might only occur in the production environment? Does the presence of such problems indicate a breakdown in the software development process or simply a by-product of complex software systems?

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  • How to verify the Liskov substitution principle in an inheritance hierarchy?

    - by Songo
    Inspired by this answer: Liskov Substitution Principle requires that Preconditions cannot be strengthened in a subtype. Postconditions cannot be weakened in a subtype. Invariants of the supertype must be preserved in a subtype. History constraint (the "history rule"). Objects are regarded as being modifiable only through their methods (encapsulation). Since subtypes may introduce methods that are not present in the supertype, the introduction of these methods may allow state changes in the subtype that are not permissible in the supertype. The history constraint prohibits this. I was hoping if someone would post a class hierarchy that violates these 4 points and how to solve them accordingly. I'm looking for an elaborate explanation for educational purposes on how to identify each of the 4 points in the hierarchy and the best way to fix it. Note: I was hoping to post a code sample for people to work on, but the question itself is about how to identify the faulty hierarchies :)

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  • Enabling Attachments in Oracle Forms

    - by Manoj Madhusoodanan
    In this blog I will demonstrate how we can enable attachments in Oracle Form. The user ask is to capture a job description which will be along text. Oracle Apps has a feature called attachments, through some easy setup we can enable attachments in forms. We will be going to addresscustomer ask through this feature. Step 1 : Identify Form Name First thing you have to do is to identify the form to enable attachment. In this scenario form will be PERWSDJT ( Job form in HRMS ). Step 2 :  Identify Document Entity exists or not. If exists then do nothing otherwise create new. Step 3 : Create Document Categories. Here I will create a category Job Description with Default Data Type Long Text and Application Human Resources.Onceit is done I will assign this to Create Job form. Step: 3 Query Attachment Functions for PERWSDJT. Click on Categories and add Job Description.Make sure enabled check box is checked. v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Step 4 : Turn off HR:Use Standard Attachments profile option. Output Go to Work Structures > Job > Description

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  • Inventory management system design problem

    - by Steve F
    What are the conventions for item batch identifiers in inventory management systems? For example: A retail supermarket can order 'Item X' from either 'Supplier A' or 'Supplier B'. When it completes an order for the item from either supplier, it needs to store the record of the receipt. Inventory quantity for the item is increased upon receipt of the order. However it is also required to store some record of the supplier. Thus some sort of batch identifier is required. This batch identifier will uniquely identify the item received and the supplier from whom it is received. A new batch is created each time items are received in stock (for example, after an order). Hence, for purposes of accounting / auditing, information available to identify an item after it was sold comprises of ITEM_CODE, ITEM_NAME, BATCH_CODE. The BATCH_CODE is unique and is associated with DATE_RECEIVED, SUPPLIER_CODE, QTY_RECEIVED. Is this a complete system specification for the above scenario or has anything significant been left out?

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  • winapi c - read/write mbr of system drive

    - by kiasecto
    Does anyone have any example code that shows how to identify the system boot harddisk, and read/write the mbr from the harddisk in windows xp and vista? I know createfile can be used. But I do not know how to properly identify which device is the boot device. Like how do you find out which ones you are meant to use? \.\Volume{GUID}\ or \?\Device\HarddiskVolumeX etc?

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  • Is DiskDrive Signature unique?

    - by Ananth
    I am currently using WMI to query various details about the underlying hardware in order to uniquely identify a machine. To this end, I came across a field called "Signature" under "Win32_DiskDrive". Is this signature unique across machines (globally)? Can this be used reliably to identify the machine? Thanks, Ananth

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  • First Party and Third Party Cookie

    - by ajithperuva
    I want to create a analysis project (just like google analysis),for getting conversion rate and track visitor count.How can we create first party cookie and third party cookie using php.Actually, how can we identify our third party and first party cookie.Need to follow any type of standard for identify them?if anybody know please give me some idea about it...please

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  • USB windows xp final USB access issues

    - by Lex Dean
    I basically understand you C++ people, Please do not get distracted because I'm writing in Delphi. I have a stable USB Listing method that accesses all my USB devices I get the devicepath, and this structure: TSPDevInfoData = packed record Size: DWORD; ClassGuid: TGUID; DevInst: DWORD; // DEVINST handle Reserved: DWord; end; I get my ProductID and VenderID successfully from my DevicePath Lists all USB devices connected to the computer at the time That enables me to access the registry data to each device in a stable way. What I'm lacking is a little direction Is friendly name able to be written inside the connected USB Micro chips by the firmware programmer? (I'm thinking of this to identify the device even further, or is this to help identify Bulk data transfer devices like memory sticks and camera's) Can I use SPDRP_REMOVAL_POLICY_OVERRIDE to some how reset these polices What else can I do with the registry details. Identifying when some one unplugs a device The program is using (in windows XP standard) I used a documented windows event that did not respond. Can I read a registry value to identify if its still connected? using CreateFileA (DevicePath) to send and receive data I have read when some one unplugs in the middle of a data transfer its difficult clearing resources. what can IoCreateDevice do for me and how does one use it for that task This two way point of connection status and system lock up situations is very concerning. Has some one read anything about this subject recently? My objectives are to 1. list connected USB devices identify a in development Micro Controller from everything else send and receive data in a stable and fast way to the limits of the controller No lock up's transferring data Note I'm not using any service packs I understand everything USB is in ANSI when windows xp is not and .Net is all about ANSI (what a waste of memory) I plan to continue this project into a .net at a later date as an addition. MSDN gives me Structures and Functions and what should link to what ok but say little to what they get used for. What is available in my language Delphi is way over priced that it needs a major price drop.

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  • Android Access inbox

    - by rahul
    I want to show few sms available in inbox in my application. And how to identify or to distinguish to sms from others? Is there any message ID or something to identify sms?

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  • java multiple operations depending on the type of the object passed

    - by mixm
    assuming i create a method which is passed an object, and that method would perform an action depending on the object passed. how should i identify the object? i thought of using the class name to identify the object, but may be impractical since i could easily change the class name of objects, and generate headaches during future development. am i right?

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  • How do digital certificates prove the identity of a device?

    - by StackedCrooked
    I understand how the relation between issuer and subject certificates enables verification of the subject's authenticity. If I connect to a networked device, and it sends me its certificate to identify itself, then I can verify that it was issued by a trusted party and that it has not been tampered with in any way. However, suppose I simply upload this certificate onto another device. Then what prevents me from having this device identify itself with the copied certificate?

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  • Webpage Reference using Javascript

    - by Ajith
    I want to identify from where a visitor coming to my webpage.Is there anyways to getting that reference in a javascript file.eg: if my website is www.example.com.if user getting this site from google or bing search,then i need to identify that,user from google or bing respectivly.How can i get this in javascript(more priority) or in php.If anybody know help me please...

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  • PC runs very slowly for no apparent reason

    - by GalacticCowboy
    I have a Dell Latitude D820 that I've owned for about 2.5 years. It is a Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz, with 2 GB of RAM, an 80 GB hard drive and an NVidia Quadro 120M video card. The computer was purchased in late November of 2006 with XP Pro, and included a free upgrade to Vista Business. (Vista was available on MSDN but not yet via retail, so the Vista Business upgrades weren't shipped until March of '07.) Since we had an MSDN subscription at the time, I installed Vista Ultimate on it pretty much as soon as I got it. It ran happily until sometime in the spring of 2007 when Media Center (which I had never used except to watch DVDs) started throwing some kind of bizarre SQL (CE?) error. This error would pop up at random times just while using the computer. Furthermore, Media Center would no longer start. I never identified the cause of this error. I had the Vista Business upgrade by this time, so I nuked the machine, installed XP and all the drivers, and then the Vista Business upgrade. Again, it ran happily for a few months and then started behaving badly once again. Vista Business doesn't have Media Center, so this exhibited completely unrelated symptoms. For no apparent reason and at fairly random times, the machine would suddenly appear to freeze up or run very slowly. For example, launching a new application window (any app) might take 30-45 seconds to paint fully. However, Task Manager showed very low CPU load, memory, etc. I tried all the normal stuff (chkdsk, defrag, etc.) and ran several diagnostic programs to try to identify any problems, but none found anything. It eventually reached the point that the computer was all but unusable, so I nuked it again and installed XP. This time I decided to stick with XP instead of going to Vista. However, within the past couple of months it has started to exhibit the same symptoms in XP that I used to see in Vista. The computer is still under Dell warranty until December, but so far they aren't any help unless I can identify a specific problem. A friend (partner in a now-dead business) has an identical machine that was purchased at the same time. His machine exhibits none of these symptoms, which leads me to believe it is a hardware issue, but I can't figure out how to identify it. Any ideas? Utilities? Seen something similar? At this point I can't even identify any pattern to the behavior, but would be willing to run a "stress test"-style app for as long as a couple days if I had any hope that it would find something. EDIT July 17 I'm testing jerryjvl's answer regarding the video card, though I'm not sure it fully explains the symptoms yet. This morning I ran a video stress test. The test itself ran fine, but immediately afterward the PC started acting up again. I left ProcExp open and various system processes were consuming 50-60% of the CPU but with no apparent reason. For example, "services.exe" was eating about 40%, but the sum of its child processes wasn't higher than about 5%. I left it alone for several minutes to settle down, and then it was fine again. I used the "video card stability test" from firestone-group.com. Its output isn't very detailed, but it at least exercises the hardware pretty hard. EDIT July 22 Thanks for your excellent suggestions. Here is an update on what I have tried so far. Ran memtest86, SeaTools (Seagate), Hitachi drive fitness test, video card stability test (mentioned above). The video card test was the only one that seemed to produce any results, though it didn't occur during the actual test. I defragged the drive (again...) with JkDefrag I dropped the video card

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  • The Benefits of Smart Grid Business Software

    - by Sylvie MacKenzie, PMP
    Smart Grid Background What Are Smart Grids?Smart Grids use computer hardware and software, sensors, controls, and telecommunications equipment and services to: Link customers to information that helps them manage consumption and use electricity wisely. Enable customers to respond to utility notices in ways that help minimize the duration of overloads, bottlenecks, and outages. Provide utilities with information that helps them improve performance and control costs. What Is Driving Smart Grid Development? Environmental ImpactSmart Grid development is picking up speed because of the widespread interest in reducing the negative impact that energy use has on the environment. Smart Grids use technology to drive efficiencies in transmission, distribution, and consumption. As a result, utilities can serve customers’ power needs with fewer generating plants, fewer transmission and distribution assets,and lower overall generation. With the possible exception of wind farm sprawl, landscape preservation is one obvious benefit. And because most generation today results in greenhouse gas emissions, Smart Grids reduce air pollution and the potential for global climate change.Smart Grids also more easily accommodate the technical difficulties of integrating intermittent renewable resources like wind and solar into the grid, providing further greenhouse gas reductions. CostsThe ability to defer the cost of plant and grid expansion is a major benefit to both utilities and customers. Utilities do not need to use as many internal resources for traditional infrastructure project planning and management. Large T&D infrastructure expansion costs are not passed on to customers.Smart Grids will not eliminate capital expansion, of course. Transmission corridors to connect renewable generation with customers will require major near-term expenditures. Additionally, in the future, electricity to satisfy the needs of population growth and additional applications will exceed the capacity reductions available through the Smart Grid. At that point, expansion will resume—but with greater overall T&D efficiency based on demand response, load control, and many other Smart Grid technologies and business processes. Energy efficiency is a second area of Smart Grid cost saving of particular relevance to customers. The timely and detailed information Smart Grids provide encourages customers to limit waste, adopt energy-efficient building codes and standards, and invest in energy efficient appliances. Efficiency may or may not lower customer bills because customer efficiency savings may be offset by higher costs in generation fuels or carbon taxes. It is clear, however, that bills will be lower with efficiency than without it. Utility Operations Smart Grids can serve as the central focus of utility initiatives to improve business processes. Many utilities have long “wish lists” of projects and applications they would like to fund in order to improve customer service or ease staff’s burden of repetitious work, but they have difficulty cost-justifying the changes, especially in the short term. Adding Smart Grid benefits to the cost/benefit analysis frequently tips the scales in favor of the change and can also significantly reduce payback periods.Mobile workforce applications and asset management applications work together to deploy assets and then to maintain, repair, and replace them. Many additional benefits result—for instance, increased productivity and fuel savings from better routing. Similarly, customer portals that provide customers with near-real-time information can also encourage online payments, thus lowering billing costs. Utilities can and should include these cost and service improvements in the list of Smart Grid benefits. What Is Smart Grid Business Software? Smart Grid business software gathers data from a Smart Grid and uses it improve a utility’s business processes. Smart Grid business software also helps utilities provide relevant information to customers who can then use it to reduce their own consumption and improve their environmental profiles. Smart Grid Business Software Minimizes the Impact of Peak Demand Utilities must size their assets to accommodate their highest peak demand. The higher the peak rises above base demand: The more assets a utility must build that are used only for brief periods—an inefficient use of capital. The higher the utility’s risk profile rises given the uncertainties surrounding the time needed for permitting, building, and recouping costs. The higher the costs for utilities to purchase supply, because generators can charge more for contracts and spot supply during high-demand periods. Smart Grids enable a variety of programs that reduce peak demand, including: Time-of-use pricing and critical peak pricing—programs that charge customers more when they consume electricity during peak periods. Pilot projects indicate that these programs are successful in flattening peaks, thus ensuring better use of existing T&D and generation assets. Direct load control, which lets utilities reduce or eliminate electricity flow to customer equipment (such as air conditioners). Contracts govern the terms and conditions of these turn-offs. Indirect load control, which signals customers to reduce the use of on-premises equipment for contractually agreed-on time periods. Smart Grid business software enables utilities to impose penalties on customers who do not comply with their contracts. Smart Grids also help utilities manage peaks with existing assets by enabling: Real-time asset monitoring and control. In this application, advanced sensors safely enable dynamic capacity load limits, ensuring that all grid assets can be used to their maximum capacity during peak demand periods. Real-time asset monitoring and control applications also detect the location of excessive losses and pinpoint need for mitigation and asset replacements. As a result, utilities reduce outage risk and guard against excess capacity or “over-build”. Better peak demand analysis. As a result: Distribution planners can better size equipment (e.g. transformers) to avoid over-building. Operations engineers can identify and resolve bottlenecks and other inefficiencies that may cause or exacerbate peaks. As above, the result is a reduction in the tendency to over-build. Supply managers can more closely match procurement with delivery. As a result, they can fine-tune supply portfolios, reducing the tendency to over-contract for peak supply and reducing the need to resort to spot market purchases during high peaks. Smart Grids can help lower the cost of remaining peaks by: Standardizing interconnections for new distributed resources (such as electricity storage devices). Placing the interconnections where needed to support anticipated grid congestion. Smart Grid Business Software Lowers the Cost of Field Services By processing Smart Grid data through their business software, utilities can reduce such field costs as: Vegetation management. Smart Grids can pinpoint momentary interruptions and tree-caused outages. Spatial mash-up tools leverage GIS models of tree growth for targeted vegetation management. This reduces the cost of unnecessary tree trimming. Service vehicle fuel. Many utility service calls are “false alarms.” Checking meter status before dispatching crews prevents many unnecessary “truck rolls.” Similarly, crews use far less fuel when Smart Grid sensors can pinpoint a problem and mobile workforce applications can then route them directly to it. Smart Grid Business Software Ensures Regulatory Compliance Smart Grids can ensure compliance with private contracts and with regional, national, or international requirements by: Monitoring fulfillment of contract terms. Utilities can use one-hour interval meters to ensure that interruptible (“non-core”) customers actually reduce or eliminate deliveries as required. They can use the information to levy fines against contract violators. Monitoring regulations imposed on customers, such as maximum use during specific time periods. Using accurate time-stamped event history derived from intelligent devices distributed throughout the smart grid to monitor and report reliability statistics and risk compliance. Automating business processes and activities that ensure compliance with security and reliability measures (e.g. NERC-CIP 2-9). Grid Business Software Strengthens Utilities’ Connection to Customers While Reducing Customer Service Costs During outages, Smart Grid business software can: Identify outages more quickly. Software uses sensors to pinpoint outages and nested outage locations. They also permit utilities to ensure outage resolution at every meter location. Size outages more accurately, permitting utilities to dispatch crews that have the skills needed, in appropriate numbers. Provide updates on outage location and expected duration. This information helps call centers inform customers about the timing of service restoration. Smart Grids also facilitates display of outage maps for customer and public-service use. Smart Grids can significantly reduce the cost to: Connect and disconnect customers. Meters capable of remote disconnect can virtually eliminate the costs of field crews and vehicles previously required to change service from the old to the new residents of a metered property or disconnect customers for nonpayment. Resolve reports of voltage fluctuation. Smart Grids gather and report voltage and power quality data from meters and grid sensors, enabling utilities to pinpoint reported problems or resolve them before customers complain. Detect and resolve non-technical losses (e.g. theft). Smart Grids can identify illegal attempts to reconnect meters or to use electricity in supposedly vacant premises. They can also detect theft by comparing flows through delivery assets with billed consumption. Smart Grids also facilitate outreach to customers. By monitoring and analyzing consumption over time, utilities can: Identify customers with unusually high usage and contact them before they receive a bill. They can also suggest conservation techniques that might help to limit consumption. This can head off “high bill” complaints to the contact center. Note that such “high usage” or “additional charges apply because you are out of range” notices—frequently via text messaging—are already common among mobile phone providers. Help customers identify appropriate bill payment alternatives (budget billing, prepayment, etc.). Help customers find and reduce causes of over-consumption. There’s no waiting for bills in the mail before they even understand there is a problem. Utilities benefit not just through improved customer relations but also through limiting the size of bills from customers who might struggle to pay them. Where permitted, Smart Grids can open the doors to such new utility service offerings as: Monitoring properties. Landlords reduce costs of vacant properties when utilities notify them of unexpected energy or water consumption. Utilities can perform similar services for owners of vacation properties or the adult children of aging parents. Monitoring equipment. Power-use patterns can reveal a need for equipment maintenance. Smart Grids permit utilities to alert owners or managers to a need for maintenance or replacement. Facilitating home and small-business networks. Smart Grids can provide a gateway to equipment networks that automate control or let owners access equipment remotely. They also facilitate net metering, offering some utilities a path toward involvement in small-scale solar or wind generation. Prepayment plans that do not need special meters. Smart Grid Business Software Helps Customers Control Energy Costs There is no end to the ways Smart Grids help both small and large customers control energy costs. For instance: Multi-premises customers appreciate having all meters read on the same day so that they can more easily compare consumption at various sites. Customers in competitive regions can match their consumption profile (detailed via Smart Grid data) with specific offerings from competitive suppliers. Customers seeing inexplicable consumption patterns and power quality problems may investigate further. The result can be discovery of electrical problems that can be resolved through rewiring or maintenance—before more serious fires or accidents happen. Smart Grid Business Software Facilitates Use of Renewables Generation from wind and solar resources is a popular alternative to fossil fuel generation, which emits greenhouse gases. Wind and solar generation may also increase energy security in regions that currently import fossil fuel for use in generation. Utilities face many technical issues as they attempt to integrate intermittent resource generation into traditional grids, which traditionally handle only fully dispatchable generation. Smart Grid business software helps solves many of these issues by: Detecting sudden drops in production from renewables-generated electricity (wind and solar) and automatically triggering electricity storage and smart appliance response to compensate as needed. Supporting industry-standard distributed generation interconnection processes to reduce interconnection costs and avoid adding renewable supplies to locations already subject to grid congestion. Facilitating modeling and monitoring of locally generated supply from renewables and thus helping to maximize their use. Increasing the efficiency of “net metering” (through which utilities can use electricity generated by customers) by: Providing data for analysis. Integrating the production and consumption aspects of customer accounts. During non-peak periods, such techniques enable utilities to increase the percent of renewable generation in their supply mix. During peak periods, Smart Grid business software controls circuit reconfiguration to maximize available capacity. Conclusion Utility missions are changing. Yesterday, they focused on delivery of reasonably priced energy and water. Tomorrow, their missions will expand to encompass sustainable use and environmental improvement.Smart Grids are key to helping utilities achieve this expanded mission. But they come at a relatively high price. Utilities will need to invest heavily in new hardware, software, business process development, and staff training. Customer investments in home area networks and smart appliances will be large. Learning to change the energy and water consumption habits of a lifetime could ultimately prove even more formidable tasks.Smart Grid business software can ease the cost and difficulties inherent in a needed transition to a more flexible, reliable, responsive electricity grid. Justifying its implementation, however, requires a full understanding of the benefits it brings—benefits that can ultimately help customers, utilities, communities, and the world address global issues like energy security and climate change while minimizing costs and maximizing customer convenience. This white paper is available for download here. For further information about Oracle's Primavera Solutions for Utilities, please read our Utilities e-book.

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