Powerco signs LV network visibility agreement with Gridsight
Powerco has entered into an agreement with Gridsight, an Australian energy technology company specialising in low voltage (LV) network analytics powered by AI and machine learning, to enhance visibility across the distributor’s electricity network.
Using customer smart meter data (network operations data service – NODS), Gridsight’s LV analytics platform will enable improved visibility of Powerco's LV network to the benefit of its customers. This includes the potential to proactively find and repair defective equipment before it causes a power outage or becomes unsafe.
The partnership marks a step in Powerco’s journey to become a Distribution System Operator (DSO), with LV data monitoring and analysis being seen as integral as the company prepares for the future of electricity.
Powerco DSO Programme Director Ryno Verster says the Gridsight platform will help Powerco manage the changing demands on its network.
“As well as enabling faster fault detection and safety, these insights will help us more accurately forecast network demand as customer uptake of solar, batteries and electric vehicles continue to rise. Combined with NODS, our goal is to gain real-time, granular visibility into our LV network, supporting improved network operations and better planning.
“Most new customer devices connecting to our network are on the LV network. To provide the best service to customers wanting to connect and give them accurate information about available capacity for such devices, it’s important we get the most granular information. By having this part of the network visible, our planning teams can better anticipate future network needs and capacity and detect what distributed energy resources – such as rooftop solar and batteries – are out there,” Ryno Verster says.
Gridsight CEO Brendan Banfield says the agreement reinforces Gridsight’s commitment to building a smarter, more flexible energy system for Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Our partnership with Powerco reinforces our leadership and commitment to the New Zealand market. We’re proud to support Powerco’s DSO ambitions and use our market-leading experience to help accelerate the country’s transition to a smarter, more resilient and customer-centric grid. Our agreement reflects the scale and significance of this partnership in shaping the country’s energy future.”
Brendan Banfield says Gridsight’s platform applies advanced analytics to data sources such as smart meters and transformer monitors, to analyse voltage, load and power quality data from across Powerco’s network.
