Strategic objective 4 – leverage technology

2010–11 Objective	2010–11 Target	2010–11 Result
Introduce the iSAFE vehicle system to Endeavour Energy’s fleet.	Commence roll out by March 2011.	First iSAFE vehicle rolled out.

Endeavour Energy is exploring technologies that allow us to better manage our network, improve productivity and, ultimately, boost customer value.

Our technology strategy has been adapted to take into account the sale of our retail business and our transition to a network-only business model.

The iSAFE vehicle system involves installing technology in company-owned vehicles that provides an emergency response function, navigation and GPS location.

Introducing the iSAFE vehicle system to Endeavour Energy’s fleet

To improve safety we are implementing the iSAFE vehicle system. This involves installing technology in company-owned vehicles that provides an emergency response function, navigation and GPS (Global Positioning System) location.

The first iSAFE vehicle has been rolled out and the project team is currently testing it against business requirements. The program is expected to continue through 2011–12 with the rollout of a further 973 iSAFE vehicles.

The iSAFE project was established to improve safety, customer value and organisational efficiency. It will do so by providing:

the GPS location of an employee in the case of an emergency.
a geographical view of our fleet and assets.
navigation to Endeavour Energy assets.
better utilisation of the fleet during crisis response periods (such as storms and high winds).
integration with existing and future Field Force Automation (FFA) systems.

Smart grid strategy

The smart grid strategy has progressed from planning to trials and now the pilot stage. Good progress has been made with trials of substation monitoring devices and smart metering systems. We have also developed and are about to implement a system for automatic fault identification and switching for the 11kV distribution network within our Hawkesbury pilot area.

Plans are well underway for the roll-out of an optical-fibre communications network between zone substations in the Hawkesbury area. The design is complete and vendors for the construction and supply of cable and communications equipment have been engaged. Construction started mid 2011. This initiative will provide a high-speed communications network for our Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) application as well as future smart grid applications.

Benefits to customers

The benefits to customers of the implementation of our technology strategy include improved network reliability, improved incident response times and greater efficiency.

Our smart grid substation monitoring devices, fault identification and restoration system will improve reliability by giving us the capacity to identify faults in real time, then automatically reconfigure the network to restore supply to most customers. This will reduce the number of customers impacted by network faults in areas in which the system has been deployed. The first system is in the process of being rolled out in the Springwood area, to be followed by a larger scheme in the Hawkesbury area.

The year ahead

2011–12 Objective	2011–12 Target	2011–12 Reason
Use technology to provide more effective operational control of the network.	Strategy developed and approved by June 2012.	To improve reliability, customer response and operational efficiency.

Deliver performance through people