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Short summary
Grid planning covers preparing projects in the electrical grid — cost estimation, engineering design, material ordering, resource planning, and documentation. Stamford’s solution brings the entire flow into one system, so information is entered once and reused throughout cost estimation, ordering, time reporting, and invoicing. The result: faster planning, fewer errors, and follow-up that always reflects reality.
Why go digital with grid planning?
One connected flow
Cost estimation, ordering, time, follow-up, and invoicing in the same system, no silos.
Enter data once
Information is captured at the source and flows automatically from there.
Full traceability
Documentation, photos, and changes gathered by project and facility.
Better margins
Fewer missed change orders and accurate invoicing straight from completed work.
All your history at your fingertips
Smart material choices and time estimates based on past projects.
Scalable
From one-person firms to hundreds of planners, the same platform grows with you.
Checklist: from inquiry to locked cost estimate
Use the list as a template for new preparation assignments. The steps follow the same logic that the system supports.
Define the project scope (route, station, rebuild, or new installation)
Gather documentation from the grid owner: maps, line data, and technical requirements
Identify landowners, permits, and easements involved
Choose standardized material packages instead of listing items manually
Use historical project data to quality-check hours and costs
Lock the cost estimate and generate the order documentation in the same flow
Checklist: ongoing planning and follow-up
Six points that distinguish a well-organized project from one that gets derailed in the invoice phase.
Register the project once — reuse the data across cost estimation, ordering, and invoicing
Link materials directly to supplier agreements and current prices
Plan resources and subcontractors against the timeline
Document work steps, photos, and deviations out in the field
Reconcile change orders on an ongoing basis — not at the end of the project
Automatically generate invoicing data from completed work
Frequently asked questions about grid planning
What is grid planning?
Grid planning is the preparatory work ahead of building, rebuilding, or maintaining the electrical grid. It covers cost estimation, engineering design, material ordering, permit handling, resource planning, and follow-up — from the first customer inquiry to a finished, invoiced project.
Which companies use a grid-planning system?
Everyone from one-person firms to large contractors with hundreds of planners. Both grid owners who commission the work and contractors who carry it out benefit from a unified planning system.
How much time can we save with digital planning?
Our customers’ experience shows that the time from cost estimate to finished order documentation can often be cut in half when information is entered once and reused. Manual double entry between cost estimation, orders, time reports, and invoicing disappears entirely.
Do we need to replace our entire business system?
No. The planning tool can be used standalone or integrated with your existing ERP, finance, and GIS systems. Most customers start with cost estimation and material handling and expand from there.
How do we get started?
We always start with a short needs meeting to go through your workflows. From there, we propose a pilot in one defined area — often cost estimation and material ordering — before rolling out across the organization.
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Want to see Guru live?
We’d be happy to walk you through a sample flow from cost estimate to invoice, using your own typical projects as the starting point.
