Powering Reliability: Custom Dashboards for Electric Utility Operations

In power grid operations, every second counts. A well-designed control room dashboard is not just a display—it’s a mission-critical tool that enables operators to monitor, analyze, and respond to system conditions in real time. With the increasing complexity of energy generation, transmission, distribution, and growing demand for renewable integration, utilities require custom display solutions that are purpose-built for clarity, speed, and decision support.

This article outlines best practices for designing custom dashboards in control rooms, particularly for power grid applications, with an emphasis on performance, usability, and operational reliability.

Why Dashboard and Control Room Design Matters

Control rooms serve as the nerve center for power utilities. Operators must interpret vast amounts of data from sensors, substations, transmission lines, and generation assets—often under high-stress conditions. Poorly designed dashboards can obscure critical information, delay responses, and contribute to operational errors.

Effective dashboard design bridges the gap between raw data and human decision-making. It organizes information visually, prioritizes situational awareness, and helps operators focus on what matters most.

1. Design for Situational Awareness

The top priority in any dashboard and control room environment is situational awareness. This includes the ability to perceive what is happening, understand what it means, and anticipate what might happen next.

• Use Hierarchical Layouts: Organize dashboards with primary, secondary, and tertiary information layers. Place real-time alerts, frequency data, and load status at the top level, while trends and logs can be accessible via drill-downs.
• Color and Contrast: Use color sparingly and intentionally. Red should always signal alarms or out-of-tolerance conditions. Avoid visual clutter by maintaining high contrast between background and text elements.
• Consistent Iconography: Use industry-standard icons for breakers, transformers, and substations to reduce cognitive load and training time.

2. Leverage Custom Display Solutions for Scalability

Grid control systems are rarely static. As utilities evolve—adding renewable energy sources, smart meters, or microgrids—the dashboard must adapt. This is where custom display solutions offer critical advantages.

• Modular Dashboards: Create templates that can be scaled or modified as new assets are integrated into the grid.
• Interoperability: Ensure dashboards pull data from SCADA, EMS, GIS, and PMU systems without latency or loss of fidelity.
• Cloud and Edge Compatibility: Consider future-proofing with hybrid display architectures that support local rendering and remote diagnostics.

3. Optimize for Cognitive Ergonomics

Cognitive overload is a leading cause of human error in control room operations. Dashboards should be designed to complement, not challenge, human cognition.

• Limit Visual Noise: Only show information that is necessary for a given task. Hide irrelevant data unless requested.
• Design for Glanceability: Operators should grasp system status with a single glance. Use sparklines, gauges, and status lights for rapid interpretation.
• Situational Customization: Allow operators to employ situational views that reflect information needed for specific operational situations—such as storm management or system restoration.

4. Integrate Alarm Management and Decision Support

Alarms are central to operational safety, but poorly configured alarm systems can become distractions. Dashboards should incorporate alarm visualizations that escalate events appropriately.

• Alarm Prioritization: Use visual cues to distinguish between informational alerts and critical failures.
• Root Cause Display: Tie alarms to contextual information—such as geographic location, historical data, or operator notes—to speed diagnosis and resolution.
• Decision Support Tools: Embed analytics that can suggest corrective actions based on predefined rules or machine learning algorithms.

5. Test, Iterate, and Improve

The best dashboard and control room solutions are the result of continuous feedback and iteration.

• Operator Feedback Loops: Conduct usability testing with real operators. Their input is invaluable for improving layout, navigation, and responsiveness.
• Simulation Environments: Test dashboards in simulated outage or overload conditions to evaluate performance under stress.
• Version Control: Track dashboard updates and maintain rollback capabilities in case of unexpected impacts.

Conclusion

As the demands on power grids grow more complex, so too must the tools we use to operate them. Custom dashboards are essential for enabling fast, informed decisions in high-stakes environments. By following best practices grounded in human factors, technology integration, and real-world testing, utilities can ensure their dashboard and control room systems are ready for the challenges ahead.

At Primate Technologies, we specialize in mission-critical content design tailored to the unique needs of power grid operators. Our custom display solutions are engineered to support reliability, clarity, and situational awareness when it matters most.

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