Our Evolving Digitalisation Strategy
Digitalisation and the better use of data will enable us to drive the modernisation and decarbonisation of our energy system. Digitalisation will improve the services provided to our customers and stakeholders while leaving no one behind, make our operations more efficient which will save customers money on their bills, and drive better engagement and opportunities for our people, all while working towards the UK's Net Zero target.
We have already implemented our Network Asset Management System (NAMS) which provides the backbone for our asset management and field operations. We have also established our business "Centre of Excellence" and "IT Digital Hub" which will work alongside our IT and Business Change teams to implement our Digitalisation Strategy.
Following engagement with customers and stakeholders we have developed 6 key pillars which will be our key areas of focus during the RIIO-ED2 regulatory cycle. As part of the ED2 planning, around 300 development opportunities and ideas have been identified, and have been developed into a series of initiatives under each strategic pillar. These initiatives consider both enhancements to current SPEN platforms as well as new technology and opportunities.
Our Evolving Data Strategy
Improving the Mastery of Our Data is one of the 6 key pillars of our Digitalisation Strategy. Our Data Strategy establishes the framework to ensure we carefully collect, manage, share, and extract maximum value from our data. Our vision is to put data at the heart of our operation, creating a solid, insightful base for our decision-making, operations, and performance improvement as we deliver our RIIO-2 ambitions. Good quality, reliable data will enable us to respond to the challenges of Net Zero, facilitate the connection of high volumes of low carbon technologies, and integrate solutions across the wider energy system.
We have already implemented our Data Landing Page, the Energy Data Hub, which has been created to house all data that SPEN currently shares openly in the public domain. There is a particular focus on making our data open within our strategy because we recognise the important role that it will play in enabling a flexible energy market.
Our Data Strategy is broken down into 6 critical data capabilities which we will need to invest in to support the delivery of our digital and data projects. These 6 key capabilities follow the good data management principles of Ofgem's Data Best Practice Guidance which underpin our digital journey.
Our IT Cyber Resilience Plan
ScottishPower and Iberdrola recognise that the security of its people, assets and data is vital to the continued success of these business functions, therefore investment in security is an ongoing priority. As part of our plans for RIIO-2 we have created an IT Cyber Resilience Plan which will help ensure the safety of the transmission and distribution networks. The confidential plan demonstrates how ongoing IT security measures aid in both preventing and minimising the impact of incidents on essential services.
Deliverability
Delivering a significant Digitalisation and Data transformation programme will impact our workforce, business and supply chain and we recognise the need to recruit new skills, train our current workforce, implement new ways of working and generate external partnerships to meet the challenges ahead. We have developed plans to support our transition and have already established our business "Centre of Excellence" and "IT Digital Hub" which will work alongside our IT and Business Change teams. A critical part of our Digitalisation & Data Strategy is the adoption of agile ways of working and we have developed a team of agile delivery professionals within the Digital Hub to bring new agile delivery methods into our organisation.
Our strategic principles are as follows:
- We will use Just transition principles to develop and grow our workforce for the future
- Grow our own core talent through multiple channels to be the modern workforce we need for our delivery plans
- Inclusive recruitment from the communities we serve to build a diverse workforce
- Attract new entrants into our industry through a wider range of channels and collaborative working
- Safeguard the health and wellbeing of our people and support their needs as an inclusive employer