Combined customer analytics and advanced data science to prioritise network maintenance and investment
Challenge
Major Canadian energy provider New Brunswick Power (NBP) recognised that the conventional measures of value used by utilities, which were typically tied to revenue and profit based on the cost of generating, transmitting, and distributing energy, did not truly represent the value of power in their region.
The key issue was that every resident and business sector in New Brunswick relied on a dependable supply of electricity. Therefore, in order to gain a comprehensive perspective, NBP understood the importance of understanding the full socioeconomic cost of power outages. Through this understanding, they would be able prioritise network maintenance and investments accordingly.
Solutions
Over the course of two months, Tecsa collaborated with NBP to enhance NBP's network criticality model. The objective was to assist NBP in identifying opportunities to enhance service provision to its customers by mitigating and proactively preventing power outages.
The enhanced criticality model was constructed using over 250 socio-demographic attributes mapped for all NBP postcodes. These attributes included age distribution, type of dwelling, business type, income, and consumption criticality. The model calculated criticality at the circuit level and helped prioritize and rank locations/grids based on the new aggregated criticality scores. Visualizations allowed for viewing the data in both a broader context and specific area close-ups, connecting new insights with the known geography of the province.
Results
The enhanced Granular network criticality model highlighted opportunities for substantial community economic benefits. New Brunswick Power found that there was an opportunity to prioritise fixing high-criticality circuits first in outage scenarios, especially at a granular local level.
Potential benefits identified were:
5%
reduction in community costs due to circuit prioritisation, for an average output
$15M
CAD per year reduction in community costs if improved outage prioritisation
$57M
CAD per year savings generated when optimising maintenance & replacement activities
Consultants & Partners Involved In This Case
At Tecsa, we carefully select the best talent from our diverse team of global experts to match the unique complexity and challenges of each project
TONY BUFFIN
DAVE BATTISTON
GERARD WHELAN
TONY BUFFIN
Tony brings with him a track record of building, transforming and growing businesses in multiple sectors for both private and public shareholders, including FTSE 100 and ASX 20 listed companies.
Tony spearheaded the revitalization of Holland & Barrett International, a leading UK-based multichannel retailer, and previously served as COO of Travis Perkins PLC where he oversaw the successful transformations in its trade businesses and the international expansion of Tool station.
Tony, former CFO of Coles Group Australia, played a key role in executing a successful turnaround in global retail. Whilst there, he was instrumental in building the company's financial services, data, and online businesses. Previously, Tony was CEO of Loyalty Management Group, an international marketing services and analytics business.
DAVE BATTISTON
Dave has considerable expertise in forging global partnerships, M&A and hands-on leadership of international multi-partner membership programmes.
Dave's expertise includes delivery of major deals in G20 countries. His strengths encompass relationship management, effectively operating at all levels including client Boards and Boards of partner companies, proven negotiation and influencing skills, leading cross-functional teams and incorporating best practise commercialisation across businesses. Industries of focus include retail, financial services, telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, travel and digital media.
GERARD WHELAN
Gerard is a successful leader with deep expertise in loyalty, CRM and marketing services, gained with global market leaders including British Airways (Avios), EDS, Maritz and Aimia (Nectar UK and Italy).
His deep industry knowledge is rooted in hands-on experience across business development, business process and operational management roles. He has worked in start-up and mature businesses and has unique experience in the design, launch and management of large-scale multi-partner membership programmes.
Prior to Tecsa, Gerard held board level positions including President, GLS Americas at Aimia, and Managing Director at Nectar Italia.
