Connecting with Western Power

Welcome to our newest client Western Power Distribution.

We are really excited to announce a new client relationship with Western Power Distribution, the electricity distribution network operator (DNO) for the Midlands, South West and Wales.

Enigma has a very productive digital partnership with another DNO, Northern Powergrid and this partnership continually delivers outstanding results. On the back of that success, the innovations team at Western Power Distribution engaged with us to develop a new ‘Network Availability Map’ which is needed as a quarter one 2017 ‘ICE’ deliverable (Incentive on Connections Engagement).

Some background to for anyone not familiar with DNOs and all of the acronyms that are involved like ICE!

Distribution network operator, Western Power delivers electricity to over 7.8 million customers via a network consisting of 220,000 km of overhead lines and underground cables, and 185,000 substations. Helping new customers connect to the electricity network is one of the most critical services that they provide. It enables new homes to be built and occupied, new businesses to start trading and new forms of generation to produce energy.

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, (ofgem) expect DNOs to provide a good service to customers that are seeking a connection and to encourage this, so, they have introduced the ICE. Under the ICE, DNOs must provide evidence that they have engaged with their larger connection stakeholders and responded to their needs.

The ICE works by requiring DNOs to submit evidence to ofgem that they engaged effectively with connection customers to develop and deliver plans that improve their service each year. If DNOs fail to provide sufficient evidence that they have engaged effectively with customers and responded to their needs, they can receive a penalty.

Still with us? Good…

The new ‘Network Availability Map’ we are building will be integrated into Western Powers website and will form a crucial part of their connections engagement strategy. The project is scheduled to launch before the ICE deadline of the 1st April. We will share the progress when it launches and look forward to working with Western Power Distribution on this and many more projects to come.