| Welcome to the latest issue of The Districts, where we chronicle the people, issues and activities impacting special districts across the U.S. New Podcast: The Innovation of Power The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) generates and distributes electric power to 650,000 customers in the Sacramento County area. Like many electric utilities, SMUD is navigating changes to the power grid triggered by solar and other new technologies, as well as rising customer expectations. This month, SMUD CIO Stephen Clemons joins the Special Districts Podcast to talk about how the utility uses technology to run more efficiently and deliver better service. As an example, he points to a recently launched feature that lets customers reconnect their electric service without talking to a SMUD representative. “They can log into our website or the mobile app or use IVR to make a payment and automatically have their power turned on instantly,” says Clemons. “If you think about that on weekends or holidays when we don’t have a representative available, that’s huge.” Tune into the Special Districts Podcast to hear more. Annual Survey Results Are In We’ve completed the 2019 Special Districts Survey, and the results offer a national snapshot of district priorities and challenges. Here’s a preview of the findings: - Districts are widely evaluating cloud services and mobile technology as they look to address current and future business requirements.
- Data analytics, drones and the Internet of Things also are getting more attention from district leaders.
- Districts’ biggest challenges revolve around modernizing and preserving infrastructure on tight budgets, as well as recruiting and retaining workforce talent.
- Cybersecurity remains the top technology priority for districts, followed closely by data consolidation and IT governance.
Look for more survey results – as well as district success stories and expert insights – in our 2019 Special Districts Program Annual Publication coming out in January. Special Districts Awards: Class of 2019 Throughout 2019, we recognized more than 40 special districts and individual officials for technology innovation. Award winners were honored for improving citizen experience, strengthening internal operations and providing outstanding leadership. Learn more about our 2019 Technology Innovation Award recipients here. | 
