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ESB NETWORKS LTD

August/September 2012 www.esb.ie/em

Enduring Solution Project goes live in NIE

Some of the ESB Staff who worked on the Enduring Solution Project: Back row (l-r): Kevin Turley, Philip McGrady, Malcolm McErlane, Joe Murphy, Christoph Oberwegner, Paul Mallon. Front row (l-r): Cathy Mooney, Elaine Byrne, John Gallagher, Jerry O’Regan, Aileen Greaves and Dave Flynn.

AFTER MORE than two years concerted effort the Enduring Solution IT project went live successfully on Monday, May 21st. This project was established to implement the necessary IT systems in NIE and Power NI (Viridian Supply company) to facilitate full competition in the retail electricity market in Northern Ireland. The overall project consisted of delivering a SAP-based solution for NIE and an Oracle-based solution for Power NI. These two solutions were delivered in parallel and had many interdependencies that resulted in a very complex project involving many different stakeholders.

Fundamentally, the NIE project comprised the introduction of SAP-ISU, as used by ESB Networks, to replace a legacy system and to interface with existing internal and market participant systems. The availability of this preconfigured, working version from ESB made the NIE implementation less risky and will provide ongoing scope for improved synergies for business processes and improved market harmonisation.

One of the major deliverables from this project, and the associated Harmonisation project which will be implemented by ESB in September of this year, is a harmonised approach to the electricity market on an all-island basis. This means that electricity suppliers, north and south, will be able to avail of a common market messaging system based on a single technical platform. This is an innovative and unique development in the regulated electricity retail market worldwide, and will replace the two systems that are currently being used.

The project, which was based in Antrim town, about 25 miles north of Belfast, presented many challenges and involved a number of major stakeholders. Wipro were the main System Implementer Enduring Solution Project goes live in NIE while other stakeholders included Northgate (IT service provider to NIE), Neueda (Business Consultants for NIE), NIAUR (the NI Regulator), Power NI and the other retail Suppliers, NIE and of course ESB. In total approximately 300 people worked on the project with around 200 on site in Antrim and up to 100 working from India.

The ESB role within the project was to provide our expertise and experience of SAP-ISU to assist in the successful introduction of the solution into NIE. This business and technical expertise was provided by staff from ESB Networks and Technology Solutions. A total of over 70 ESB staff, some of whom are based in Antrim on a full time basis, were involved in the project to varying degrees over the past two years. The involvement of these ESB staff was instrumental in ensuring a successful delivery and provided an invaluable support to our NIE colleagues.

This was a very high profile project for both NIE and ESB in that its successful delivery was essential for the full opening of the NI electricity market. This success has been achieved through huge commitment and teamwork from everyone involved and has established strong linkages with our colleagues in NIE which will beneficial in addressing future joint challenges.

Approximately 200 people worked on the project at the site in Antrim with another 100 working from India.

2,729 incident free days – Roscommon celebrates

Pictured above are some of the Roscommon staff members who attended the function.

ESB NETWORKS ROSCOMMON had no Lost Time Accident (LTIs) for more than seven years – a fantastic record of 2,729 days since the last incident. This is a tremendous achievement and in recognition of this, staff were presented with certificates at a recent breakfast event.

The staff in Roscommon have committed to ESB’s safety message very well. Longford/Roscommon is one of the top locations in the country for ‘Near-Miss’ reporting and the connection is not coincidental.

The breakfast was used as an ideal opportunity also to present certificates to Ollie Cunningham and PJ Davis for success in their recent Craft Accreditation exams.

Well done to all in ESB Networks, Roscommon.

Networks Staff visit National Schools

Star of the Sea NS, Passage West, visited by Paul Cahill and Dave Carey, Wilton.

AS THE SCHOOL year came to an end, Networks staff were busy visiting national schools across the country spreading the Sustainability message. A large number of schools in Dublin, Cork and Sligo were visited during the months of May and June.

In all cases, those involved in the visits found the experience to be very rewarding and were impressed by the level of interest, enthusiasm Networks Staff visit National Schools and indeed knowledge displayed by pupils. Interaction was the order of the day with lots of discussion, debate and indeed, interesting and engaging questions from pupils on a wide range of Sustainability related topics. In all cases, Electric Vehicles, proved to be a huge hit during the visits. Photos from some of these visits can be viewed on the Networks Sustainability site on Sharepoint.

Pupils at Scoil na Buachailli NS Clonakilty visited by Eleanor Lane and John O’Neill, Dunmanway.

Kilcloon NS visited by Willie Bean, Naas.

Pupils examining an EV at Derrinacaheragh NS Dunmanway.

Paddy Hamill, Sustainability Manager, and Bernie Walsh, Sligo, at Knockminna NS, Ballymoate.