Through its multibillion-dollar Safety Modernization Program, Peoples Gas is updating its natural gas delivery system throughout the city of Chicago by replacing cast iron gas pipes with durable polyethylene plastic pipes in its system to ensure long-term safety and reliability. This program was put into place in 2011; nearly 2,000 miles of natural gas pipe will be replaced, bringing valuable improvements to the natural gas service.
Overview
PMA Role
PMA is currently engaged by Peoples Gas to provide project controls support, specifically focusing on cost and schedule management. As an extension of the Planning & Project Management Department, PMA closely collaborates with the project management team, offering daily support for overall cost and schedule performance. PMA also interacts with all stakeholders involved in the capital program’s project life cycle and provides guidance on process improvement initiatives. Notably, PMA staff played a key role in introducing and implementing Microsoft Power BI, which has become Peoples Gas’ primary reporting and data analytics/visualization tool for the program.
In addition to the ongoing support, PMA was tasked separately with assessing the project controls organization at Peoples Gas during its transition from a vendor-provided setup to an in-house operation. This assessment involved a thorough review of various documents, interviews with project controls and program stakeholders, and identification of recommended improvements in organizational design, information systems, and project controls knowledge areas. These knowledge areas include cost, schedule, changes, risk, progress measurement, and estimating. Furthermore, PMA was requested by the owner to address short-term training needs related to project controls.
