Although the standards-based systems integration of utility software applications using the domain data standard common information model (CIM) exists, many utilities are facing difficulties in managing of data exchanges among software application systems due to lack of standard oriented database management systems. The standard oriented database can be built from the CIM object oriented model using object-relational mapping (ORM). The generic design of ORM can handle object oriented model mapping to any database schema semantics. This paper presents a CIM oriented database (CIMODB) design through the object-relational mapping (ORM). The flexibility of data moving between object-oriented paradigms and relational database paradigms is achieved with the use of ORM concepts. Furthermore, the paper explores the integration of upstream power system applications with the proposed CIMODB, such as, topology processing, load-flow analysis, and more power system studies at the control center level from the legacy vendor software systems. A case study is illustrated to elaborate the CIMODB concept on the 400kV 20-substation Maharashtra network, which is the part of western region in India. © 2013 IEEE.