Utility firm Central Networks has launched a live
network map on its website to improve the transparency of
operations to its 4.9 million customers.
The live network map allows users to view constantly updated
information on the performance of the electricity supply.
The map shows when a power service is interrupted, the cause of
the problem and the estimated time of restoration, as well as
listing planned and unplanned power interruptions by county.
"The development represents an important step forward in the UK
electricity industry and offers customers accessible real-time
information in an open and transparent way for the first time,"
said a spokesman for Central Networks.
"You could be at work when the power goes off at home, and you
can check the status through the web. Or, if at home, a customer
could phone somebody else to check the status of the problem
online."
Central Networks said customers could phone up to receive the
same information, and that the online network map was intended to
be an additional source of information.
The utility company developed the system in-house as a
three-tier application, with a front-end web application, a
middle-tier web service proxy and an end tier comprising a web
service-based interface.
All the applications are written in Microsoft C# .net and run on
Windows Server 2003. The system links into the company's two key
control systems, run by GE Harris and Thales, and is based on
Oracle databases.
Data is extracted from these every five minutes and is provided
to the web service data interface for customers to view online.
The technology was first introduced by Swedish energy company
E.ON Nordic, which runs a similar application for its one million
customers.
"The system was originally written in Javascript for a proof of
concept, but had to be migrated to C# .net for deployment to our
external web servers. It had to comply with the company's strict
security policy as it was going to be visible on the world wide
web," said Central Networks.
www.central-networks.co.uk
Comment on this article:
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk