Driving improvements through information

Operations Management System (OMS) Upgrade

OMS (Operations Management System) is a high availability IT application deployed by ESB Networks to assist with the management and operation of the MV/LV Networks and provide customer information on planned and fault outages.

The system maintains and displays a centrally stored network model showing the real-time status of the network and network devices. Staff involved in operations activities such as Control Room Operators, Dispatchers, CSS’s and NTs can all access this information 24/7 via the District Control Centres and in each of the 34 area locations. It has recently been upgraded and is now rolled out and in use nationwide.

The benefits of OMS are:

Safety

• Tagging of all work locations on the network (including Timber, Live Poling and Live Line work)
  
• OMS displays the real-time status of all devices in the model (open, closed, deenergised, earthed etc.)
  
• Devices in the model can be tagged with Restricted Operation and Hazard tags
  
• The OMS network model is updated from DFIS every 24 hours

• Prioritisation of faults based on safety, customers numbers etc
  
• Analysing fault information and inferring location of faults on MV system
  
• Provision of fault restoration information to National Call Centre

• Integrated approach to outage planning
  
• Notification of customers of planned outages
  
• Updating of customer information as outage progresses
• Accurate recording of outage duration

• Rapid detection of fault locations based on customer calls and transformer referencing and configurable fault prediction rules in OMS
  
• Prioritisation and grouping functionality allows Dispatchers/Area staff to organise all fault outages and assist with fault location on the ground
  
• The status of all calls and Estimated Restoration Times are automatically provided for the call centre and the IVR (automated voice response)
  
• All customer information including referencing is updated from SAP and LINK every three hours
  
• All customer notification for planned outages is provided by OMS

• Provides accurate data to the regulator in terms of customer hours lost and customer interruptions
• Target areas for maintenance e.g. most common faults/worst performing outlet
• Provides a web based summary of current outages for information coordinators in a storm scenario.

OMS Upgrade Project

By the end of 2005 ESB Network Operations in conjunction with the main system vendor (ORACLE) concluded that a complete root and branch upgrade of the application was required as the product was reaching ‘end of life’ and that the performance of the system could be greatly improved. The OMS upgrade project commenced in December 2006 and the new system was cutover on August 18th.

Key deliverables for the upgrade project were:

• A comprehensive upgrade to the latest version of ORACLE Utilities Network Manager Software (v1.7.10)
• Reengineering of OMS interfaces to SCADA, LINK, DFIS, IVR and SAP systems
• A more robust call entry application for the National Customer Call Centre
• A streamlined crew scheduling application
• Replacement of all existing HP Alphaserver infrastructure with IBM P-series servers running AIX
• Deployment of all hardware to the two corporate data centres located in City West and Blanchardstown. Both data centres are state of the art with fully redundant fibre, power, cooling and fire detection systems.
• Cutover to the new version was August 20th 2007
• Completion of OMS rollout to all ESB area offices was November 2007

OMS Rollout
All aspects of the system were successfully delivered and the new system went live on 18th August. The success of this project was testament to a sustained nine month period of hard work coordinated by ESB Networks Operations and involving ESB Network Services staff, Oracle Utilities (formerly SPL), Bennett Systems and teams from ITS comprising UNIX (AIX) technical support, Web Development, Enterprise Operations, Storage, NT Technical Support, Application Management, Hub and Project management. Prior to the upgrade, 18 areas already on OMS received training prior to ‘go-live’ on the upgraded system. The remaining 15 areas were transferred over the next 10 weeks. The last area went live on November 5th. ESB Network Services staff in these areas were trained in how to plan outages on the new system and deal with outages.

All ESB Network Services and ESB Network Projects staff were briefed on the new system and the importance of maintaining contact with the control room and dispatch in the DCCs to keep the information available via the OMS system up to date.

Central Site played a vital role throughout the project ensuring that Network Data in each area was validated and updated prior to the go-live. All design staff were made aware of the criticality of accurate network data and the wide range of tools (Webview, GeoDART, etc.) available to ensure this.

OMS is a key business deliverable that plays a vital role, using best international practice, in the efficient and effective operation of the MV/LV network. It will drive improvement in the ESB Networks business in terms of data quality, customer service and regulatory information.

The next phase in the development of the MV system is centralising control into the DCC’s. OMS is a key enabler to achieve this new phase in the management of the system. EM