Arizona Public Service (APS)
AVEVA cloud solutions reduce training and remote maintenance costs
Arizona Public Service, the largest electricity provider in the state of Arizona, operates six power plants across a territory of more than 35,000 square miles. With half of its 6,000 employees retiring within the next five years, the company faced a major challenge: passing on critical know-how and training a new generation of operators without overloading its sites with costly, time-consuming travel. Traditional in-person training was hampered by geographic dispersion and offered limited exposure to simulation scenarios. APS partnered with AVEVA to deploy generic plant models in the cloud using AVEVA CONNECT and AVEVA Operator Training Simulator. This approach eliminated travel, saving up to three days per session per person. Operators can now train at any time, repeat scenarios as often as needed and build lasting skills essential to keeping electricity affordable for Arizonans.
Testimonials
FAQ
How is AVEVA CONNECT revolutionizing power plant operator training?
AVEVA CONNECT hosts generic power plant models in the cloud for use with AVEVA Operator Training Simulator. For Arizona Public Service, which operates six power plants across 35,000 square miles, this approach eliminates costly travel (up to 3 days per session per person). Operators can train at any time, from any site, and repeat scenarios as often as needed. It is a modern response to the challenge of an aging workforce in the energy sector.
Why is an Operator Training Simulator critical in the face of mass retirements?
At APS, half of the 6,000 employees will retire within five years. AVEVA Operator Training Simulator makes it possible to capture the know-how of experienced operators in high-fidelity models that reproduce plant behavior. New operators thus acquire in a few weeks reflexes that previously took years of practice. It is a strategic lever for preserving operational continuity and ensuring safety in a sector where experience is critical.
What operational benefits does cloud-based training bring to a multi-site operator?
For Arizona Public Service, cloud-based training via AVEVA CONNECT eliminates travel time and greatly increases the availability of simulations. Operators access scenarios at any time, from any site, and can repeat exercises until they achieve full mastery. This 24/7 availability significantly increases training effectiveness while reducing the logistical costs of traditional in-person training. It is a particularly relevant model for energy operators covering large areas.
How does a vendor-agnostic solution simplify training across multiple plants?
AVEVA Operator Training Simulator runs across APS's 12 plants using generic power plant models, with no dependency on a specific proprietary technology. This agnostic approach makes it possible to pool training content, standardize best practices across the fleet and reduce the cost of developing and maintaining simulators. For an electricity provider operating a variety of technologies, it is a key factor in the scalability and longevity of its training investment.
How does simulation-based training help keep electricity rates affordable?
For Arizona Public Service, providing affordable electricity to Arizonans depends on controlling operating costs. AVEVA simulation-based training drastically reduces travel costs, accelerates operator upskilling and limits costly operational errors. By preserving expertise in the face of retirements, APS secures the industrial performance of its six plants and stabilizes its long-term costs, a direct benefit for the final rate paid by customers.