Strengthening the Power of Partnership: Utility Joint Use Summit Takeaways

In an industry defined by rapid broadband expansion, regulatory pressure, and rising workloads, collaboration among utility joint use professionals isn’t optional, it’s essential.

That spirit was at the heart of Alden's recent Joint Use Summit. Utility leaders from across Kentucky, including electric cooperatives, CATV and communications attachers, and engineering partners, came together for a one-day event of open dialogue and shared learning.

Hosted by Alden Systems, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, and McLean Engineering (an Osmose Company), the Summit emphasized collaboration, and actionable problem-solving. The goal was to help participants discover new ways to maximize the value of Alden ONE and strengthen partnerships among the key stakeholders driving modern joint use operations.

Key Takeaways from the Joint Use Summit

The Summit offered participants an opportunity to better understand how Alden ONE can help fortify partnerships in joint use operations. Read on for eight takeaways from the Summit:

1. Communication Is Everything & Everywhere

“Every permit, every transfer, every violation notice is a Conversation.”

The idea that every joint use process is a Conversation defines how electric utilities, attaching companies, construction, and engineering firms can streamline communication, automate workflows, and connect all stakeholders around a single source of truth by utilizing Alden ONE.

The Summit demonstrated that joint use goes beyond managing utility poles, joint use attachments, or permits. It’s about relationships. With Alden ONE, users can share visibility into the same data and progress, building trust and accountability across every project.

2. Integration Is the Key to Doing More with Less

“The new normal means more data, more assets, and more expectations, but not necessarily more staff.”

Throughout the day, participants echoed a familiar reality: Utility teams are being asked to do more, and without additional resources.

Key Challenges

• Manual, disconnected processes between GIS, permitting, billing, and field inspections slow down work

• Inconsistent inspection practices can lead to compliance gaps

• Limited funding for new staff despite expanding workloads

• Increasing regulatory demands for transparency and documentation

Solutions to Explore

• Automation (whenever possible and beneficial, even if starting small)

• Integration (between systems and departments, both internal and external)

• Collaboration (between all key joint use stakeholders)

3. Streamline Financial Workflows & Reporting

“Many utilities already have these tools in Alden ONE. They just aren’t using them to their full potential. Alden’s goal is to help you get more out of what you already have.”

Alden ONE simplifies financial operations by automating payables, receivables, and billing workflows from end to end. The platform supports everything from invoice generation and recurring billing to exception management and validation, minimizing manual intervention and improving accuracy.

Financial dashboards were showcased that allow users to filter by company, export data, and track key performance metrics. These dashboards make it easier to monitor contracts, receivables, and payables, while offering actionable insights to guide decision-making.

4. Data Integration, APIs, & Enhanced Security are Essential

Integration and security were recurring themes at the Summit. Alden ONE supports APIs and SFTP connections for data synchronization with GIS and inspection systems. Ongoing enhancements will expand API capabilities and simplify bulk data uploads, ensuring the platform evolves alongside client needs.

Role-based access controls ensure that each user, whether asset owner, attacher, or contractor, has appropriate permissions. Users can be granted temporary access for specific projects, while enhanced security measures prevent unauthorized status changes, ensuring compliance with internal governance standards.

5. Centralization Drives Regulatory Compliance Clarity

Tyler Logan of McLean Engineering (an Osmose Company) demonstrated how Alden ONE has transformed his organization's Public Service Commission (PSC) regulatory reporting. What once took weeks of manual compilation can now be completed in days.

By centralizing permitting and attachment data, electric utilities can produce accurate quarterly reports, reduce administrative overhead, and identify trends before they become compliance issues. As Logan emphasized, centralizing this asset data helps your team identify any issues before the regulator does.

6. Networks Need Custom Workflows, Violation Management, & Mapping

Flexibility in workflows was another primary topic at the Summit. Participants discussed the importance of having customizable workflows for different joint use processes, so that steps could be added or removed based on individual company needs.

Afternoon sessions focused on training, including using advanced search and mapping tools within Alden ONE. Attendees learned to conduct attribute-based searches, troubleshoot data errors, and customize map views with color-coding, layers, and labels—all designed to simplify asset visualization and coordination.  

7.  Focus on Continually Improving the User Experience 

User feedback plays a key role in shaping future enhancements for Alden ONE and attendees had the opportunity to request desired improvements in export capabilities, contractor registration, and documentation clarity.

The Alden team is actively addressing these areas through our user-driven roadmap, which prioritizes development based on client needs.

The takeaway: Alden ONE isn’t just software. It’s a platform built with and for the joint use community.

8. Collaboration Is the Cornerstone

Beyond technology, the Utility Joint Use Summit underscored that trust and collaboration are the true cornerstones of operational success. Asset-owning electric utilities and attaching companies may have different end goals, but both rely on shared data, open communication, and aligned processes to better serve their own customers.

By engaging earlier, sharing more transparently, and leveraging Alden ONE as a collaborative platform, partners can minimize conflict, accelerate timelines, and strengthen long-term relationships.

Let Us Bring the Conversation to You

Interested in hosting a Utility Joint Use Summit at your location? Reach out to events@aldensys.com to learn more about hosting a one-day summit tailored to your organization’s goals. Together, we can build a smarter, more connected future for utility joint use.