Trans-Pacific computer network links allow texas to leverage Australian GIT Know-How
Susan Jackman
Oncor Utility Solutions A TXU Company
1601 Bryan St STE 19084 Dallas TX 75201-9349
Abstract
This paper discusses the approach taken by TXU to reduce the time and cost to update
the digital landbase information in their Distribution Management System (DIS),
while maintaining relevant quality standards. TXU have successfully implemented a
project utilising the expertise of resources in TXU Australia and using the Internet to
access systems in TXU US, while leveraging off the time differences between
Australia and the US, and also taking advantage of the currency exchange rate. The
challenges for training new resources in Australia without travelling will also be
explained. The implementation of this global project by TXU has delivered a range of
benefits to help TXU US meet their obligations under Senate Bill 7 and this will also
be reviewed.
Background
TXU is a major global energy company with operations in North America and
Australia. TXU's energy business in North America is the largest power generator and
electricity retailer in Texas with 19,000 megawatts of competitive generation and 2.7
million electricity customers. TXU also has the largest electricity and natural gas
utilities in Texas, delivering more than 100 million megawatt-hours of electricity and
over 140 billion cubic feet of natural gas annually. On the other side of the world,
TXU's business in Australia includes both electricity and natural gas delivery, and
energy operations, with 1,280 megawatts of generation and almost 1 million
electricity and natural gas customers. TXU serves more than 5 million electricity and
natural gas customers in North America and Australia.
TXU US maintains landbase information and, gas and electricity network facilities
information, electronically in a DIS (Distribution Management System). The landbase
information forms the foundation of the DIS and serves as reference for the gas and
electric network facilities. The DIS is also used by TXU designers for graphical
distribution network facility designs and cost estimates, and together with customer
connectivity, is vitally important to the CATS (Computer Aided Trouble System) for
the daily operation and control of the electric distribution system, encompassing all
2.7 million Texas electric customers. Therefore the accuracy, completeness and
currency of the landbase in the DIS has a major impact on TXU’s facility design and
customer connectivity activities for both the gas and electric businesses.
In 2001, it was estimated that the New Senate Bill 7 rules would require TXU’s turnaround
time on landbase input into DIS to improve dramatically to allow the
designers time to prepare and present competitive cost estimates on customer
connection requests, within the 10-Working Day rule. Senate Bill 7 also dictates that
certain projects are to be completed, from estimate to ready-for-close, within 90
working days.
At that time, the TXU US records group were at capacity keeping up with the new
landbase entries and did not have the time or resources to also enter missing or
incorrect landbase information from previously completed projects, or update any
network facilities corrections, or take on any additional workload arising from
deregulation in 2002.
In addition to the impact of Senate Bill 7, there has also been rapid growth in North
Texas. As the population has exploded at an unprecedented 4% growth rate, we have
continued to load our Records group employees at an increasing rate due to the
corresponding increase in new and updated landbase data in DIS.
Solution
TXU needed to increase production output in landbase updating (by records group
staff), and reduce the time required to provide accurate and competitive cost estimates
on customer connection requests (by facility designers). If a shared resource solution
were not developed, we would have to examine the balance between reassigning and
hiring more costly design group resources, against the priority and urgency of the
landbase updates and new entries. It was decided that the highest priority was
ensuring the new landbase information is entered into the DIS system to comply with
Senate Bill 7.
TXU US also employs local contractors to assist with the workload of the Records
group. Each time a new contractor is introduced to the records group there are several
expenses incurred in addition to labour charges. These additional costs are the upfront
start-up costs, and the ongoing overheads. The main up-front cost is the training
costs for each new resource. The ongoing costs include workstations, office space,
software licences (DIS is an Integraph Framme system), supervision, quality auditing,
and quality control for the contractors.
As we are not always able to utilize the same contract resources, there is a significant
training and learning period that must be endured before a resource is as productive as
our in-house resources. While in the training and learning period, the contractors also
rely heavily on the support of other existing trained resources, detracting from their
ongoing productivity. Establishing a consistent core of trained, dedicated personnel
would eliminate the constant need for new training, reduce the supervision and quality
control costs, and allow the US-based Records group to be more productive.
Another major advantage of using the resources in TXU Australia is the elimination
of extra software licence costs as the time difference (15 hours) means that the current
licences are used for a greater part of each day.
