SSP Innovations Expands Fixed-Fee Utility Network Migration Program to Serve Larger Utilities
SSP Innovations, LLC (SSP), a leading provider of GIS and workforce management solutions for utility and telecom organizations, has announced a significant enhancement to its SSP Accelerate offering. Originally tailored for smaller utilities with up to 100,000 meters, SSP Accelerate is now available to serve electric and gas utilities managing as many as one million meters. This move marks a pivotal step in the company’s mission to simplify and streamline the migration to Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network—a modern and comprehensive geospatial solution designed to support today’s complex utility infrastructures.
With the expansion of SSP Accelerate, utilities of all sizes can now access a fixed-fee, pre-configured package that includes everything needed to successfully transition from Esri’s legacy Geometric Network to the new Utility Network. This includes a pre-built design based on industry best practices, seamless data migration, deployment of powerful network editing and management tools, and hands-on training for staff to ensure a smooth adoption process.
A Streamlined Path to Modernization
Utility companies across the country are under increasing pressure to modernize their operations in response to evolving customer expectations, regulatory demands, and technological advancements. Many of these organizations rely on outdated GIS platforms that were never intended to support the demands of modern operational systems, such as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Outage Management Systems (OMS), or distributed energy resource management.
Enter Esri’s Utility Network—a GIS solution purpose-built to handle the intricate needs of today’s electric and gas utilities. With support for advanced analytics, real-time network modeling, and enhanced data visualization, the Utility Network acts as a true digital twin of a utility’s physical infrastructure. However, migrating to this advanced system has often been seen as a daunting and resource-intensive undertaking—until now.
“Most utilities don’t have the appetite for a multi-year GIS upgrade,” said Wendy Jacobs, Executive Director of Product Management at SSP Innovations. “That’s why we developed SSP Accelerate—to provide a reliable, cost-effective pathway to the Utility Network that can be completed in a matter of months, not years.”
Delivering Results in Record Time
A key feature of SSP Accelerate is its use of a standardized, pre-configured design that incorporates best practices derived from decades of industry experience. This templated approach allows utilities to bypass many of the costly and time-consuming steps typically associated with GIS migrations, including prolonged requirements gathering and custom system configuration.
Instead, utilities begin with a ready-to-deploy solution that covers the majority of common needs. The result is a dramatically reduced project timeline, minimal disruption to internal teams, and a quicker return on investment.
“With SSP’s solution, we were able to move from a disconnected network to a fully connected Utility Network with advanced capabilities in just three months,” said Rick Hansen, Power Director for Washington City. “We now have a solid foundation to build out our AMI and OMS solutions.”
SSP Accelerate includes a robust suite of services and deliverables designed to ensure long-term success, including:
- A pre-built Utility Network data model aligned with Esri’s standards.
- Automated tools for migrating existing GIS data from the Geometric Network.
- Network editing and validation tools that support ongoing operations.
- In-depth training sessions for technical staff and end users.
- Project management and support from experienced SSP consultants.
The Value of a Fixed-Fee Approach
One of the most compelling aspects of SSP Accelerate is its fixed-fee pricing model. By eliminating the uncertainty often associated with GIS projects, SSP gives utilities a clear understanding of costs upfront—enabling better budget planning and executive buy-in.
“This expansion is a game-changer for mid-sized utilities,” said Patrick Vardeman, CEO of SSP Innovations. “We’ve taken the guesswork out of migrating to the Utility Network. Our fixed-fee model delivers predictability and peace of mind, ensuring that utilities can modernize without the fear of scope creep or budget overruns.”
Vardeman emphasized that for many organizations, the transition to the Utility Network is no longer optional—it’s essential. “Legacy GIS systems simply can’t keep up with the demands of modern utility operations,” he said. “The Utility Network isn’t just a next-generation platform—it’s an operational imperative. SSP is proud to help our clients embrace that future with confidence.”
Supporting Utilities Across the Spectrum
SSP Accelerate is ideal for investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and cooperatives alike. Its scalable architecture and modular components make it suitable for a wide range of use cases, from small-town electric providers to regional gas distribution networks.
With the new expanded eligibility to serve organizations with up to one million meters, SSP Accelerate addresses a long-standing gap in the GIS marketplace. While smaller utilities have benefited from packaged solutions in the past, larger mid-market utilities have often been left with costly, customized projects as their only option. SSP is changing that narrative by delivering enterprise-grade capabilities in a repeatable, predictable package.
The Future of Utility Network Migration
The announcement comes at a time of heightened urgency across the utility sector. As climate change, electrification, and customer demands accelerate the pace of innovation, utilities are rethinking the role of data and digital infrastructure in driving reliability, resilience, and sustainability.
GIS plays a foundational role in this transformation, providing the spatial intelligence necessary for everything from outage response to asset management to planning for renewable integration. The Utility Network, as Esri’s flagship GIS platform for utilities, is at the center of this digital shift—and SSP is committed to helping organizations make the transition smoothly and successfully.
“Utilities need GIS platforms that don’t just map assets, but help manage them in real time,” said Jacobs. “That’s what the Utility Network delivers, and that’s what SSP Accelerate makes accessible.”
About Esri’s Utility Network
Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network extension represents a leap forward in how utilities manage their spatial data. Designed to support the entire lifecycle of utility operations, it allows for detailed modeling of network assets, complex relationships, and topologies. The Utility Network can serve as a digital twin—mirroring the real-world layout and performance of a utility’s infrastructure, making it easier to simulate scenarios, detect anomalies, and optimize performance.
However, migrating to the Utility Network has historically required specialized expertise, significant resource allocation, and long project durations. SSP Innovations has set out to change that by delivering SSP Accelerate as a turnkey solution that reduces complexity and accelerates outcomes.
A Proven Partner for Utility Innovation
SSP Innovations has long been recognized as a trusted partner to the utility and telecom industries, with a strong track record of delivering successful GIS and workforce management solutions. The company’s consulting, software, and integration services support a wide variety of enterprise systems, including Esri, Schneider Electric, and GE platforms.
With SSP Accelerate, the company continues to lead the way in helping utilities modernize, adapt, and thrive in an increasingly digital and distributed energy landscape.
For utilities still relying on legacy GIS systems and contemplating the shift to Esri’s Utility Network, SSP’s expanded Accelerate offering delivers a timely and practical path forward—combining industry expertise, innovative technology, and a fixed-fee model that puts transformation within reach.
