a balancing act
Advancements in Technology from the Meter to the Desktop
Hand-held mini-computers used by meter readers were placed in a console where data was downloaded to PCs and then into the mainframe for billing.
t er s e M g in d a e w R T hen and No
der Meter Rea red its first o n o h C U ing team In 1985, O meter read e th r, a e y t nd r. Tha n electric a of the Yea of 2.6 millio l ta to a d o a te b oks manually re all into rou m e th g in g rs, log ing system water mete meter read ic n o tr c le ne ployees by hand. A nabling em e , 7 8 9 1 mented in puters) to was imple (microcom s e ic v e d t. dheld on the spo to use han eck usage h -c le b u o d ss was able record and ys to proce a d e k ta the used to sferred to Data that ur and tran o h n a in ed a result, to be load xt day. As e n e th g for billin read more mainframe be able to ld u o w r e t r read 9.9 percen each mete hieving a 9 c a — th n o sharply meters a m dings and a re t rs fi n uracy o rate of acc -reads. reducing re
PCs Bring Information to the Desktop Change swept through every aspect of OUC
record research efficiency in Customer
during the late ‘80s as it initiated measures to
Accounting and sped up the estimating
keep up with advancements in technology and
process for engineering staff.
the economy while staying ahead of growth.
The impact of PCs became even more
From 1985 to 1988, the number of personal
profound when, in January 1988, a new
computers (PCs) at OUC grew from eight to
4381 IBM mainframe computer was installed and
135. Local area networks (LANs) were installed
connected to the LANs. Data communications
to link groups of PC users, giving them easier
capabilities emanating from the mainframe
access to more information and letting them
were also expanded to outlying facilities via
share expensive equipment.
OUC’s existing microwave/fiber optics
By expanding employees’ capabilities, networked PCs impacted every facet of OUC.
communications networks. These developments vastly accelerated
Purchasing and Materials Management was
the progress toward an integrated office
able to convert from a manual system to a
information system. As a result of the rapid
completely automated one. Computer Aided
deployment of computers, the Micro-
Design programs sharply reduced time
Computer Support Department was formed
needed to prepare drawings of complex
to help manage the new computer network
underground and water installations.
and the flow of information.
Microcomputer capabilities increased
For OUC, 1987 kicked off an information era with the deployment of personal computers on
a balancing act
desktops. Two years later, the Micro-Computer Support Department was formed to help employees
manage their information technology needs. Page 32