How to Avoid Costly Setbacks in Utility Network Migrations

How to Avoid Costly Setbacks in Utility Network Migrations

Published: May 20, 2025

You wouldn’t deploy millions in CapEx on “maybes.”

Utility investments demand confidence. Whether it’s for smart grid upgrades or decarbonization goals, decisions must rest on trusted data. 

Close enough simply is not good enough.

As utilities across the globe prepare to migrate to Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network (UN), one truth is becoming crystal clear: your biggest risk isn’t the software – it’s your data.

For decades, utility networks have relied on legacy systems like the Geometric Network, built for an era when infrastructure documentation was sparse and manual updates were the norm. 

Now, with the Utility Network (UN) model demanding granular precision and rule-based data integrity, any inconsistencies – missing attributes, outdated formats, geometry errors – will grind your migration to a halt.

The Shift: From Legacy Systems to Smart Networks

Esri’s ArcMap and Geometric Network are set for retirement by 2026, pushing utilities to modernize. 

Far from just a technical upgrade, migrating to the Utility Network transforms how data is structured, validated, and used across operations. 

UN migration enables advanced capabilities like subnetwork management, real-time tracing, and tighter integrations with systems like SCADA and asset management platforms.

Yet, while the Utility Network promises game-changing capabilities, its success hinges on one critical factor: the integrity of your data. Before any utility can unlock real-time insights or automation benefits, it must first confront a sobering truth: most legacy data isn’t ready.

The Cost of Poor Data Quality

Poor data isn’t just a nuisance, it’s a liability. 

Errors in geometry, missing attributes, or disconnected features can delay migrations by months, inflate costs, and erode confidence among stakeholders. Worse, they can compromise network performance post-migration, affecting everything from outage management to regulatory reporting.

Utilities that neglect data quality upfront often find themselves stuck in reactive mode, chasing errors that could have been prevented with proactive validation.

That’s why a proactive, data-first strategy is essential. The good news is that you don’t have to face this challenge alone.

Data Quality: The 1Spatial Advantage

At 1Spatial, we treat Utility Network migrations as a data governance challenge, not just a technical one. Our tools and approach empower utilities to identify and resolve issues before they derail projects.

Through our UN Readiness App, utilities can assess their current data state against Esri’s rigorous standards. Whether it’s overlapping lines, disconnected points, or non-compliant schemas, it provides clear, spatially indexed reports that pinpoint exactly where fixes are needed. And because it’s delivered as a SaaS platform, teams can self-serve, iterate, and move at their own pace—no installations or IT overhead required. The platform is also flexible enough to support partners accelerating migrations on behalf of their clients, making it a valuable tool for both in-house and service-led approaches.

Three Pillars of a Successful Migration

1. Readiness Starts with Validation:
Before even thinking about migration, you need a clear view of your data landscape. The Readiness App checks for geometric and topological compliance, highlighting critical issues like stacked points or self-intersecting lines that would violate Utility Network rules.

2. Migration Must Be Iterative:
One-and-done migrations rarely succeed. That’s why we enable an iterative approach—validate, fix, revalidate. Our UN Migration App helps map existing schemas to the UN model, allowing for progressive alignment and reduced risk.

3. Post-Migration Integrity:
After migration, validation doesn’t stop. The UN Validation App confirms that your data meets all Utility Network rules, ensuring a clean transition with no surprises in production environments.

Real Results from Real Utilities

Holland Board of Public Works cut its migration timeline in half with 1Spatial… 

United Utilities slashed service disruptions by proactively addressing data quality issues... 

Hunter Water in Australia accelerated deployment and minimized data errors by embracing our iterative, rules-based approach. 

These aren’t just upgrades—they’re operational transformations.

Why This Matters Now

With the clock ticking toward ArcMap’s end-of-life, utilities face mounting pressure to act. But rushing into migration without addressing data quality is a recipe for failure. A data-first approach ensures smoother transitions, lower costs, and faster ROI.

Utilities that embrace this model will be positioned not just to meet compliance, but to lead in digital infrastructure. Those who don’t may find themselves outpaced—and outperformed.

Ready to Lead?

At 1Spatial, we believe data quality is the foundation of every successful digital transformation. Whether you’re a small co-op or a large investor-owned utility, our tools are built to scale, adapt, and deliver measurable results.

Contact us to schedule a readiness assessment or explore our SaaS tools designed for UN migration. Let’s make your data migration faster, smarter, and more reliable.