Asset management: A unified approach will bring the change we need

Last week the EEA held its annual Asset Management Forum.

Over the day, presenters stepped us through the current and future issues impacting asset management with a big focus on data, regulations, management systems and the ongoing integration of distributed energy resources (DER).

What stood out to me was the importance of a unified approach – individual bespoke outcomes will not deliver New Zealand’s desired decarbonisation targets. We all agree on the need to work together to enable demand and supply to be more flexible.

A key message from the forum was that establishing good asset management and data systems, and transparent information flows will be crucial.

Attendees agreed that we are going to have to leverage DER and embrace new technology if we are going to meet customer needs while maintaining the security, reliability and safety of supply. 

Which is why it was fantastic to have the key players in the room, sharing their expertise and knowledge, and excited about working together.

We started the day by hearing from the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko about their distribution and future security and resilience work programs, aimed at enabling change. The Commerce Commission then highlighted the importance of asset management systems and how increased quality and availability of data will enable customer engagement and a better transition.

This was reinforced by Horizon Networks NZ case study regarding their approach to gaining ISO 55001 certification, and insights provided by Unison Networks Ltd on their similar journey. Their work has enabled greater consistency and transparency across what they do, better responses to events and a clearer story of the value they deliver to their stakeholders.

The FlexTalk panel provided further insight into the EEA and EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) led pilot project around using a common communications protocol to enable demand flexibility. We are excited to see this project now entering its final phase with a conclusion due early next year.

Finally, Mike Casey of Rewiring Aotearoa brought it all to life with his personal story of how he has achieved the electrification of his cherry orchard and his big plans for engaging others in the electrification of the country. 

We are going to see more and more people like Mike leading the way and engaging directly with distribution systems, making it even more critical that our engineering, technical and safety experts work together to enable this to happen safely and effectively.

It is against this backdrop that the EEA is continuing to engage with industry to provide the tools and guidance needed to enable the electrification of our economy.

Our work on the FlexTalk project is about demonstrating that from an engineering perspective, we can make it work, but there are other issues that will need to be worked through to provide customers with the confidence and knowledge needed to engage with more electrification options.

Other key initiatives discussed included the updated Power Quality Guide which will be released in the coming days; and the work to update the Resilience Guide, incorporating what we can learn from recent events such as Cyclone Gabrielle and from others who work in this space.  

We also announcing a new project to develop a Common Connection Guide for DER and distribution networks. This is a critical piece of work that will be done in close collaboration with EDBs and the Electricity Authority as well as extensive engagement across the industry.

The EEA was established in 1927 with the following as its stated purpose: “The chief objects of all concerned in the industry is to distribute electricity as cheaply as safety permits, and it is only by close cooperation between all parties that this can be done.”

While so much has changed, it seems the fundamentals remain the same. 

Presentations from the forum are available on our website.