Utility Week

32 | JANUARY 2021 | UTILITY WEEK Operational Excellence Companies across the utilities sector continue to demonstrate agility and a willingness to innovate despite the pressures of Covid-19. Here are some highlights from the coverage in our Operational Excellence hub on utilityweek.co.uk over the past month: SSEN trials 'smart hammer' https://utilityweek.co.uk/ssen-trials- smart-hammer-to-test-wooden-electricity- poles/ Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks has begun trialling a "smart hammer", which allows faster and more accurate assessments of wooden poles used for overhead power lines. The cur- rent procedure involves a linesperson striking the pole with a standard hammer and using the sound as an indication of its condition. However, this long- standing technique relies on the tester's subjective judgement and provides only basic scores. The smart hammer allows workers to capture consistent objective information to gain a more complete understanding of the pole's health. UKPN to create 'White Van Plan' to help smaller firms switch to EVs https://utilityweek.co.uk/ukpn-to-create- white-van-plan-to-help-smaller-firms- switch-to-evs/ UK Power Networks has asked small and medium-sized enterprises to express their future transport needs, as it seeks to develop a "White Van Plan" to assist them in making the switch to electric vehicles. The distribution network opera- tor said it is keen to ensure that SMEs, which unlike larger firms may lack the time, resources or information to make the transition, are not leŽ behind in getting the charging infrastructure they require. United Utilities brings meter reading back in-house https://utilityweek.co.uk/united-utilities- brings-meter-reading-back-in-house/ United Utilities has taken meter reading back in-house aŽer 20 years of contract- ing it out. The company has hired 80 staff to carry out meter reads and respond more quickly to customers' needs. The new employees previously did the work as part of an outsourced contract but United Utilities was inspired by the energy sector to employ staff directly. Analysis PR24 could pave the way for smart water networks I its early thinking on the next price review Ofwat has identified greater use of smart networks as a key ena- bler of water companies being able to deliver services more efficiently. How- ever, technology and engineering con- sultancy Enzen tells Utility Week that meters are only the beginning Enzen's head of UK and Europe, Sanjay Neogi, and chief operating engineer Easwar Parameswaran, say metering is only the first step towards networks themselves becoming smart. In homes, smart meters can help billpayers understand how much water they are using and where, as well as managing their consumption and bills and spotting leaks faster. Neogi says that while these features improve the consumer experience, there is much more to learn from the data that will pour in across water net- works. He explains that the informa- tion fed back from sensors and loggers can manage pressure, flow, predict demand patterns, monitor water qual- ity – all of which feed into compa- nies' outcome delivery incentive (ODI) commitments. In early December Ofwat asked stakeholders what the water sector could look like in 2040 and how the regulator should help companies work towards it. Looking to PR24, Ofwat noted the pressures the sector is facing to deliver more for customers and the environment while keeping bills low. It advocated for nature-based solutions and smart networks to help companies meet the challenges. The adoption of automatic meter reading (AMR) has steadily increased since it was developed in the 1980s and although penetration is low in some parts of the UK a leap to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is on the horizon for AMP8. Neogi believes it is more a question of when companies adopt the technology rather than if. He says that without networks and systems built around the meters, it would be more difficult for companies to benefit fully from the data available and meet challenges when integrating with existing platforms. Unlike AMR meters, with AMI data can be sent in two directions and the system is operated through a central- ised data company. The invaluable data and insight from AMI, Neogi says, can extend the lifespan of pipes, with information from sensors and loggers that can feed back to the company to offer a pic- ture of the health of assets and where weaknesses may be in a network. Neogi explains: "In water, from a regulation point of view, metering has not been mandated so far but man- dates are coming in now and there are many areas that an automated meter- ing infrastructure is going to help, such as customer experience and leak- age management. To reduce consump- tion and make people understand Pressure is growing for the rollout of smart water meters, but it is smart networks that will really pay off, says Ruth Williams. Op Ex Round-up

• Cover