I wish we could say that there is one way to configure Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network (UN) in the electric domain, but as everyone who has tried to implement on the UN in the last eight years knows, this process has evolved, and no two customers do the same thing. If they did, I wouldn’t be writing this blog.
To understand the ArcFM Configuration for the Utility Network (ArcFM UN), one must first understand that many ArcFM customers on Esri’s Geometric Network relied on the tool, Feeder Manager 2.0 to manage their subnetworks. Feeder Manager identified the source energizing each piece of electrical equipment; tracked energized phases on the primary side of the network and updated Feeder ID and phase information dynamically in response to network edits (e.g., opening or closing a switch). In our design of the ArcFM UN, we wanted to help customers who used ArcFM Feeder Manager 2.0 get the same results in the Utility Network using Update Subnetwork after editing or when reconciling dirty areas.
The second item we were concerned about was minimizing customization costs when sending data to downstream systems like ADMS. One of the primary business drivers behind migrating to Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network is the ability to leverage GIS as an accurate data source for grid operations. When we started the configuration, our goal was to enable customers to use Esri’s Export Subnetwork to send data to ADMS out-of-the-box with minimal customizations.
How do we accomplish these two critical goals? Instead of requiring a specific data model, we documented the best Utility Network configuration for the electric domain that leverages ArcGIS Utility Network technology out-of-the-box. Working closely with Esri, we embraced the Utility Network instead of creating custom tooling that would make migrations more expensive.
How does the ArcFM UN streamline migration projects?
Migrating to Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network is a transformative step for utilities seeking to modernize their GIS infrastructure. However, the journey can be complex, requiring careful planning. The ArcFM UN is a purpose-built configuration for the electric domain that simplifies the data modeling process and accelerates the migration process while ensuring long-term scalability and data integrity. It does this through defining phase propagation & equipment topology. We focus on both the North American Model (Unbalanced) and the European Model (Balanced).
Phase propagation
Let’s talk a bit about the North American/Unbalanced model, as phase propagation as very little impact on the European Balanced Model.
Our Feeder Manager 2.0 customers were used to the following fields: FeederID, PhaseDesignation, SubstationName, CircuitID, and EnergizedStatus.
By using the ArcFM UN configuration for phase propagation, customers can maintain two fields: PhaseNormal and DeviceStatus for input. The PhaseEnergized field is populated using Esri’s Update Subnetwork for output. No additional attribute rules are needed. Using ArcFM UN configuration, the Utility Network works out-of-the-box for managing connectivity and topology.
By doing propagation this way, we could additionally bring critical ArcFM productivity tools to ArcGIS Pro like Phase Swap. This ArcFM Editor XI functionality easily updates phasing and automatically keeps devices in sync with the units.
This relatively simple configuration choice saves significant migration cost while ensuring customers transition to Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network with ArcFM with the same functionality they had on the Geometric Network with ArcFM. That’s just a small example of how ArcFM continues to add value on top of Esri.
Equipment topology
One item that impacts our projects more than anything is when the customer starts trying to integrate with ADMS. Our stance has been that the export to ADMS should accurately represent what is in the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise Geodatabase. The data you see in ADMS should be as close as it can be to your GIS. In the past, integrations included lots of logic that transformed data to get it into a format that could be consumable by ADMS.
Here is where the ArcFM UN Configuration really pays off. The ArcFM UN documents exactly how to configure most major pieces of equipment in Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network so that when data gets exported into the Esri’s Export Subnetwork format, it is ADMS ready.
Without the ArcFM UN, many projects get here and realize decisions they made early in the modeling stage cause problems. Terminals which translate to nodes are needed in many downstream systems. The ArcFM UN provides critical terminal configuration recommendations for directionality and allows for determination of flow direction. ArcFM UN’s Terminal Path Configuration tells us whether a unit should be energized in ADMS. We can also use this to tell us the high side and low side of a transformer as well as source and load for a voltage regulator.
Junction-to-Junction associations are probably the most overlooked rule in our ArcFM UN configuration. By limiting Junction-to-Junction association, we eliminate costly customizations that need to be done when seeing this data in ADMS.
Many customers get here and are faced with two choices: 1) Create a customization to convert the association to conductor in the ADMS conversion or 2) Go back and revisit when they have chosen to use these associations. We recommend using a connector conductor in their place. Connector conductors can be easily symbolized and function in the map like Junction-to-Junction associations, plus you have the added benefit of being able to separate them from other features. Esri also agreed that this suggestion is more performant.
Ultimately, following the ArcFM UN recommendations on equipment topology can reduce overall project time by 20% and can reduce model redesign cost that can be $1,000 to $100,000 dollars in project overruns. Not to mention delays to go lives.
Using ArcFM UN equipment topology recommendations and core functions of Esri’s ArcGIS Utility Network, ArcFM Feeder Services brings additional value to our customers seeking operational efficiency, data accuracy, integration readiness and scalability. This includes functionality like Advanced Change Detection and Access to Common Equipment Catalog to reduce redundant attribution and allow integration with your overall business processes so that your feeders remain up to date when even the smallest changes occur without reexporting whole networks.
What does the future hold for ArcFM and the ArcFM UN?
We’ve heard from our customers that you want more live time editing feedback when working with ArcGIS Pro. We’ve also heard from customers that they are worried about getting less than perfect data into the ArcGIS Utility Network.
That’s why we are pleased to announce the upcoming release of ArcFM Feeder Manager XI within ArcFM Editor XI coming early in 2026. This tooling will enable users to see Feeder IDs added to features and validate connectivity as they edit without having to run validate and update subnetwork. This functionality will be coupled with a QA/QC framework allowing you to build QA/QC rules above what exists in the ArcGIS Utility Network, saving time to get these rules enabled.
After that, we will be delivering on another feature that will aid in your ADMS journey with less than perfect data. The new feature will provide an advanced extract for downstream systems. Our customers who choose not to, or do not have the data to support the ArcFM UN, will be able to use a less exacting UN configuration to get data ready for ADMS. This new functionality will be bringing back the technology that we had with Network Adapter and CIMInt.
Key takeaways
The ArcFM UN Configuration simplifies migration to Esri’s Utility Network for the electric domain by maintaining Feeder Manager 2.0 functionality, enabling automatic phase propagation and feeder identification with minimal customization. It supports out-of-the-box ADMS integration by standardizing equipment and terminal modeling, ensuring GIS data is export-ready. Terminal configurations and topology rules—like replacing junction-to-junction associations with connector conductors—reduce downstream complexity and improve performance. The configuration accommodates both balanced and unbalanced electric models, streamlining migration while preserving operational fidelity. ArcFM Feeder Services adds further value with advanced change detection and equipment cataloging, ensuring scalable, accurate, and integration-ready network management.
Find out more by visiting our knowledge article on MyArcFM where you can read the ArcFM UN guide and download the asset package.
About the author
Lynette Lyddane, Schneider Electric Digital Grid Sr. Product Manager – Software
With over three years at Schneider Electric, Lynette is a Business Professional with more than 20 years of experience in designing and implementing a broad range of GIS projects for companies in the utility industry.
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