Utilities

Northern Electric

Northern Electric is the UK subsidiary of the Mid American Energy Holdings Company, a US based group, which serves 3.37 million customers worldwide. Northern Electric distributes electricity in the North East of England supplying electricity and gas to more than two million customers across Great Britain.

We work closely with Northern Electric to meet the challenge of the deregulated utilities market and to improve their business processes.

Bespoke system development - Line Loss Factor Correction (LLFC)
The LLFC system automatically advises Electricity Supply companies of any changes to their unit distribution rates (LLF), which occur due to alterations in meter configuration. The system routinely detects changes in configuration through an MPRS add on database and sends an automatic mail shot report to the relevant supplier. C&C Group designed, developed and implemented the system and we are responsible for on going support and development.

Major cost savings have been made as a result of automating this process, both from charging accurate LLF's and the reduction in manual monitoring and administration requirements.

Bespoke system development - Meter Certification Administration System (MCAS)
NEDL is the Electricity Network Operator for the North East and North Yorks. C&C Group work with NEDL Metering Division to help manage their meter operations. The Regulator stipulates that all electricity meters require certification on a regular basis and to comply with this stipulation NEDL regularly test and re-commission their meters. The MCAS system uses hand held technology to record test results and calculate which meters are eligible for re-certification, automatically issuing a barcode for stocktaking purposes if the required criteria is met.

The system automates a labour intensive procedure and manages stock control, reducing costs and streamlining the business process.

Bespoke system development - New Instruction Connection Administration System (NICAS)
With the deregulation of the utilities industry, new marketing opportunities have emerged one of which is the competition to supply those customers occupying newly built or connected homes. NICAS was designed and built by C&C Group to intercept notices of new connections from distribution companies, to enable Northern Electric to target these prospects.

The system automatically intercepts notices of new connections from distribution companies and adds relevant targets to Northern Electric's marketing database, based on a sophisticated address search facility. This enables Northern Electric to take advantage of new marketing opportunities, to increase the size of their customer base and maximise their return on investment, both of which are key business objectives.

Bespoke system development - General Premise Inspection System
This system has a dual purpose. It manages property inspections for De-Energised Premises and Credit Meter Installations, to comply with The Regulator's safety requirements for distributors, and to give revenue protection for suppliers in Vacant Supply On situations. It integrates seamlessly with existing MPRS and SFIC systems within distribution companies and with customer billing systems in supply companies.

Loss of revenue from unoccupied properties and those transferred to new tenants is a major problem for the utilities industry so this system ultimately, has a significant impact on our client's bottom line.

Yorkshire Electricity
IVR / Call Centre Systems - Support And Administration

C&C Group are responsible for supporting and administering the databases and servers hosting Yorkshire Electricity's mission-critical IVR / call centre system.

C&C Group carried out an audit of the existing server configurations and database implementations, bringing those implementations in line with industry best practice and put in place backup routines, recovery mechanisms and database monitoring and diagnostics routines. C&C Group now support and administer the sophisticated mirrored topology remotely as part of a wide-ranging service level agreement that includes monthly PAF updates. C&C Group have also developed and implemented the software 'glue' that binds the multi vendor, multi platform heterogeneous application suite together and support this bespoke development as an integral part of the facilities management SLA.

Integrated Utility Services
Connections Database Application

Integrated Utility Services is dedicated to delivering excellent customer service in all aspects of design, construction, maintenance and operation of public and private utility networks. The organisation carries out all direct customer liaison and on-site works on behalf of NEDL, the electricity network operator for the North East and North Yorkshire. From their IUS base in the North East of England and with a network of offices and depots throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland they service a national network of clients, managing thousands of projects covering a complete scope of technologies and values.

C&C Group are helping IUS by developing and supporting their ERP system CDA (Connections Database Application). CDA is a multi utility enterprise resource planning application that supports new connection, network maintenance and network investment projects from initial customer contact, through estimating, quotation, project equipment and staff resource planning, stores requisitioning and invoicing. The system maintains full customer contact histories supporting many aspects of CRM, supports configurable workflow, service level monitoring and alerting. The system has a browser based UI including self-service customer pricing, ordering and progress monitoring module.

CDA is flexible, scalable, robust and future proof. The application has an extremely low administrative overhead resulting in a reduced TCO (total cost of ownership) for IUS. CDA is built upon the Microsoft web application suite and is administered and deployed via the browser.

C&C Group are also pleased to be able to announce a collaboration with IUS whereby we can offer this system to other organisations with similar requirements. CDA is engineered and constructed to support the enterprise wide deployment and performance requirements of large, competitive, multi-service utility and construction companies. CDA is entirely configurable and table driven, adding value to your business immediately without any customisation. If you have a requirement in this area please contact us.

National Grid Company
Project support and staffing - NETA

We supply and support NETA trained staff for the National Grid Company NETA team.