Burns & McDonnell Adds Utility Modernization Consultant

Burns & McDonnell has named Doug Houseman utility modernization lead consultant to help clients navigate evolving regulations, market conditions and industry needs.

Houseman has nearly four decades of engineering and consulting experience, including assisting with an Italian utility’s network of 27 million smart meters — meters allowing the utility to change breakers remotely rather than by visiting each location every time a customer wants a higher limit, a move that generated enough savings to finance the entire project. He also has been working with Burns & McDonnell on Entergy projects, helping make changes to the utility’s internal standards to improve the grid’s resiliency and save money.

As utility modernization lead consultant, Houseman will evaluate and implement new technologies, processes and systems, as well as help clients develop policies and standards. He will focus on advanced metering infrastructure, distribution and substation automation, enterprise asset management, distributed energy resources and distribution management infrastructure, and standards and processes.

“Doug brings unique ideas to each project or challenge,” says Lucas McIntosh, project manager and distribution planning lead at Burns & McDonnell. “We are thrilled to have him join our team and help our clients define and achieve modernized operations, systems, technology and policies.”