A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a system of hardware, software and procedures designed to support the capture, storage, management, analysis and display of information related to the location of property and other assets.

In conjunction with other City Departments, CWLP has developed a GIS that allows the utility to maintain a precise, computerized mapping of all in-field assets, including utility poles, transformers, power lines, water mains and valves, and electric and water meters. This information can be used to site new system installations and to rapidly pinpoint the location of equipment that requires repair or upgrading, as well as to more quickly identify the source of outages and other service problems or emergencies than was previously possible.

Toward this end, in the fall of 2001, using global positioning technology, the CWLP Electric Division undertook a months-long city-wide survey of all of its in-field property (see photo above). The information obtained during this audit was entered into the GIS and used to create overlays to a base map of the city created from a series of aerial photographs. In  2009, these same efforts were made by the CWLP Water Division. (More about the Water Division's portion of the GIS can be found elsewhere on this website.)

In early 2003, CWLP joined forces with Sangamon County to create a new, county-wide GIS. The partnership benefits both sides economically—in part, by ensuring costs associated with developing and maintaining the system are not duplicated—as well as from an information gathering and sharing standpoint. Under terms of the agreement, the City’s total out-of-pocket commitment to the County was $400,000, with payments spread over four years. In addition, CWLP provides several Sangamon County facilities with telecommunications services at no monthly fee. This arrangement saved the City $400,000 in initial costs plus $100,000 in annual maintenance fees.

The County is responsible for maintaining and updating the base maps. CWLP and other governmental agencies participating in the county-wide GIS are responsible for updating the overlays containing information specifically relating to their business or services.

CWLP uses the GIS in conjunction with several other  technologies—including a Customer Information System (CIS), Outage Management System (OMS), and Integrated Voice Response (IVR) system—to ensure CWLP will be able to provide a high level of customer service and service reliability. In addition, access to certain information from the County and other participating governmental agencies make it easier and faster for the utility to site and construct new electric and water facilities and perform other routine and special services.

For more information about CWLP's electric transmission and distribution system, including its fiber optic telecom-munications network, or about the CWLP Electric Division in general, select the appropriate topics or subtopics listed in the left-hand column of this page.

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Last update: 01/24/12