Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | MARCH 2022 | 35 Energy customers in Great Brit- ain are in the midst of a period of great change. As energy systems transform, custom- ers' needs and wants change, and new opportunities emerge for the "future customer" and network companies. This includes customers making full use of new digital services, electric vehicles, and electric space-heating, and network companies better meeting cus- tomers' needs and providing new services. All of these opportunities are dependent on reliable and resilient distribution networks. Every outage, no matter how short, can have a significant impact on the ability of the customer to fully realise the benefits the energy transi- tion offers and for distributed energy resources to deliver their full potential. Ofgem recognised this in its RIIO-ED2 Sector Specific Methodology Decision. It set out its commitment to intro- duce a minimum performance standard for short interrup- tions during RIIO-ED2. Ofgem noted this was important "to ensure customers across [Great Britain] can expect to receive the same minimum level of service". In putting forward these proposals, Ofgem cited the example of a US utility company in Florida where Customers Experiencing Multiple Momentaries (CEMM) is an established performance metric, and the utility recog- nises customer satisfaction is negatively impacted with high CEMM. However, Florida is only one of the examples Ofgem could have used. Short interruptions have been embedded in performance incentive arrangements for many years in Sweden, Italy, and in the state of Victoria, Australia. In all cases, these jurisdictions have witnessed a significant reduction in short interruptions, thereby benefit- ting customers. In their RIIO-ED2 busi- ness plans, the Distribution Network Operators responded to Ofgem's methodology deci- sion. They have put forward a range of reliability commit- ments. While these vary in scope and focus, the proposals all demonstrate a recognition of the importance of network reliability to the future chal- lenges for the sector. This is not a new issue, but it is one that is becom- ing increasingly important because of the implications for customers experiencing markedly below-average power reliability – the Worst Served Customers. As we approach the energy transition, it's criti- cal no customer is le– behind. While customer needs and wants may differ, all customers must have the opportunity to maximise their potential ben- efits. Tackling short interrup- tions will be key to the success of all future customers. This is why Ofgem's proposed mini- mum standard is so important. Christopher Watts and Grant McEachran are regulatory affairs directors at S&C Electric Company EXPERT VIEW CHRISTOPHER WATTS AND GRANT MCEACHRAN, S&C ELECTRIC COMPANY Tackling short interruptions is key to the success of the 'Future Customer' Grant McEachran Christopher Watts control and the system response to vari- able rainfall run-off, which can result in dis- charges. Thames Tideway's control strategy developed two operating modes, wet weather and extreme wet weather, with the former activated if forecasted system-wide rainfall depth is below 22mm in 24 hours, and the latter – and pre-emptive control measures – activated if above said benchmark. On top of this, physical models are used to evaluate deaeration designs to avoid air entrapment at large drops in the sewer network and led to the creation of vertical deaeration chamber designs. A live virtual operating system for London Vale also explains that a virtual operating system – harnessing existing digital twins alongside both information already available and that found during the project – is an "essential tool for analysis and continuous learning" on Thames Tideway's smart waste- water network. Connecting different data environments together across treatment works, networks and Tideway Tunnels will, ultimately, lead to better decision making and financial sav- ings, he says. Vale adds that use of existing digital twins creates a digital ecosystems to simu- late, test and operate physical assets as well as providing a modelling and visualisation tool for optimising and commissioning. The use of live data also creates a dynamic system for "near real time" decision making, with the virtual operating system, ultimately, an important tool in demonstrating the suc- cessful integration of the Thames Tideway Tunnel with the Lee Tunnel, treatment works and wider sewer network. Stuart Stone, editor, Utility Week Innovate One of the boring machines used on the Lee Tunnel Connecting different data environments together will ultimately lead to better decision making and financial savings.

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