Harmonisation in gas data management
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minute read
The requirements specified by European and German regulatory authorities to gas grid operators are constantly increasing. They include ever shorter process cycles for energy data management. e.kundenservice Netz GmbH (EKN), one of E.ON’s business services units, has responded to these challenges. The energy data management (EDM) service provider for the four E.ON DSOs has rolled out GAS-X GDM, an integrated technical quantity determination system, thus harmonising the EDM landscape of these DSOs.
It would have been extremely difficult for EKN to implement the regulatory authorities’ new requirements for shorter process cycles and transparency with their available heterogeneous systems. Sopra Steria consequently created a client-based solution
built on GAS-X, enabling requisite energy data to be collected on an hourly basis. As manual user interventions are reduced to a minimum, the solution has significantly increased the efficiency of operations.
Key points
- Standardisation of the heterogeneous system infrastructure of project B.E.H.A.V.E.
- Integrated client-based GAS-X solution
- Process automation
- Increased efficiency and reduced operating costs
Challenge
e.kundenservice Netz GmbH used four different systems to determine the gas quantities consumed by key accounts for E.ON regional utilities and transfer quantity data to adjacent grid operators.
situation proved to be problematic in that gas grid operators are required to provide up-to-date energy data at ever shorter intervals. EKN had to invest considerable effort to make sure the requirements for shorter process cycles are mapped.
Harmonisation of the system infrastructure
Project B.E.H.A.V.E was initiated to improve this situation and consolidate the heterogeneous systems of E.ON’s distribution system operators Bayernwerk, HanseWerk, Avacon and E.DIS, by building one integrated tenant-based solution.
Our solution
An integrated system was rolled out to all four regional utilities by e.kundenservice Netz GmbH. As the new solution GAS-X GDM is based on an automated, event-driven approach, shorter calculation and communication processes are achieved. EKN is now able
to perform hourly processes for all four E.ON regional utilities in accordance with the applicable market rules of the EnWG (German Energy Industry Act), KoV (Cooperation Agreement) and the DVGW (German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas
and Water) worksheets G486, G685 and G686.
The modern web and service-driven architecture of the application increases its scalability and availability. The solution supports the automatic substitute value creation process, including tamperproof documentation. This ensures that several data sources
are processed in parallel at one metering point. Depending on availability, readings from connected retrieval systems operated by external metering service providers can be included. The measured values are automated and audited based on configurable
rules for data validation. As there is no need for manual interventions anymore, the increase in efficiency is huge.
How we worked together
The solution was initially rolled out to the system tenants Bayernwerk and HanseWerk. In the second project phase, after extensive tests, Avacon and E.DIS successfully migrated to the new system. Based on the project teams’ impressive expertise
and quick decision processes in operations and project management within e.kundenservice Netz GmbH and due to the strong collaboration between EKN and Sopra Steria, project obstacles were overcome easily.
Successful decentralised interaction
Collaboration between all stakeholders was excellent and extremely smooth. Although the project involved four project sites in different federal states, all individual systems used by the four companies were successfully and efficiently consolidated into
one single GAS-X system.
Results and benefits
As a result of the project, all four E.ON regional distribution system operators are using an integrated system operated by e.kundenservice Netz GmbH, enabling them to standardise the handling of their gas data management processes. The subsequent consolidation
of gas billing processes has enabled EKN to ensure a range of technical and commercial benefits for operations, service and maintenance.
With the roll-out of the multi-tenancy system GAS-X GDM, data and access authorisations have been strictly separated for all regional utilities. At the same time, EKN benefits from a harmonised model with identical processes that can be used broadly.
The standardised system infrastructure and related processes have led to a significant reduction of operating and implementation costs associated with future requirements in this highly-dynamic environment.
- Consolidation: Four become one. One system for all four regional E.ON grid operators
- Automation: Event-driven approach for calculation and communications processes
- Harmonisation: Identical processes in accordance with current market rules
- Modernisation: The web and service-driven system architecture is a prerequisite for digital transformation
e.kundenservice Netz GmbH provides energy data for commercial processes to SAP’s IS-U system via automatic process integration.
In the context of project B.E.H.A.V.E., EKN has established the requirements for reinforcing the company’s digital expertise by expanding their gas data management product and service portfolio.
Sopra Steria won us over for this complex project based on their high level of IT expertise and deep understanding of gas data management market requirements. Highquality solutions were provided to meet all challenges. The project was concluded to our great satisfaction, on time and on budget.
Martin Polak, Project Manager, E.ON Business Services GmbH
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