By Christopher Piccolo, HEXstream utilities industry specialist

For nearly two decades, I worked in the nerve center of utility operations, where outages, asset failures, weather events, and customer demands all collided in real time. Back then, if a transformer was overloaded or a feeder failed, we pieced together what we could from siloed systems and hoped our assumptions were accurate enough to keep the lights on.

Today, as we face a seismic shift in how energy is used and distributed, those assumptions are no longer enough, especially when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs).

The role of the utility is evolving rapidly; we are no longer just managing generation and delivery. We are managing complete data ecosystems. One of the most urgent opportunities/challenges ahead is integrating EV infrastructure into the grid in a way that is intelligent, flexible and transparent.

EVs are the tip of the spear

Behind every EV charger is a complex web of data sources: smart meters, AMI networks, distribution assets, behind-the-meter DERs, and telematics platforms from dozens of vehicle manufacturers. Each charging session does not just draw power; it generates operational and compliance-critical data.

If utilities cannot access, standardize, and act on this data in real time (or worse), if the data is inconsistent or duplicative, they risk grid instability, missed regulatory credits, misinformed infrastructure investments, and diminished customer trust.

What is needed in this complex new era is more than software. It is a rethinking of architecture. Success depends on working with partners who understand utility operations deeply and who know how to build clean, reliable and actionable data environments.

What integration really means

Many vendors offer dashboards and analytics tools, but very few understand the complexities of utility data, from the operational reality on the ground to the compliance demands in the boardroom.

Real integration means reconciling data from multiple sources, such as EV chargers, AMI, SCADA, GIS and fleet platforms, and transforming it into a single source of truth. It is not just about APIs. It is about aligning kilowatt-hours dispensed with transformer loading, correlating charger sessions with time-of-use rates, and integrating manufacturer telematics with customer-usage behavior.

Companies like HEXstream, which have worked across utility environments integrating AMI, DER, outage, and asset data, have shown how to do this at scale. They bring upstream and downstream systems together in centralized models that support both analytics and operational readiness. 

Compliance is strategic value

Regulatory frameworks such as clean-fuel standards are more than just mandates. They are opportunities. But they depend entirely on accurate, deduplicated and validated data. Without the ability to automate and audit the reporting process, utilities risk falling behind. They may miss out on credit opportunities or spend countless hours manually reconciling conflicting data. 

The best partners design systems with audit trails, real-time validation, and transparent fault-handling. Data integrity becomes a guarantee, not a guess.When you can confidently demonstrate where every data point comes from, you gain more than regulatory compliance. You build trust, improve transparency, and create strategic flexibility.

Planning tomorrow’s grid with today’s insights

EV load is already affecting the grid. Managed charging, vehicle-to-grid applications, and demand-response programs depend on visibility into real-world usage patterns and customer behavior.

That means that modern utilities must invest in platforms that do more than visualize the past. They need predictive analytics that draw on historical usage, real-time events, and grid-asset capacity to plan more effectively. 

Whether it is forecasting load growth on a substation or designing time-of-use rate incentives, it all starts with quality data. Integrated systems can help utilities plan capital projects more efficiently, operate more reliably, and better engage customers who are increasingly invested in how and when they use electricity.

The bottom line

As someone who has lived through the frustrations of incomplete, conflicting and delayed operational data, I can say this with confidence: clean data is now as critical as clean energy.

And EVs are reshaping this new energy landscape. The utilities that succeed will be those that treat data integration as a core function, not a side project. In today’s energy world, data is the grid. Those who invest in getting it right will lead the transition, not follow it.