Ondrej Safar, CEZ Romania: “We need to redefine our way of working using all the data we collect”

“Smart Transformation”, a project started in 2016 by the distribution operator within the CEZ Group in Romania is the best example of new technology sustaining the local industry development, says Ondrej Safar, Country Manager, CEZ Romania.

“The project aims to efficiently manage the extra demands of energy consumers, on one side, and to continue reducing the time of intervention in dealing with an energy outage, from the moment the distribution operator receives the information to the actual solving of the problem, thus enhancing the degree of comfort of its consumers,” he explains.

The first results of the project came in the first year of its implementation, when the distribution operator within the Group managed to reduce the duration of outages to less than half of the duration of outages in 2012. Also, throughout the implementation of the MWM solution (mobile work management), the operator improved both operational and environmental aspects of its activity, as the initiative replaces the paperwork electricians have to complete when on field.

“Essentially, tablets replace the paperwork load of electricians and help the operational teams to perform their daily activity offering them information on the procedures they have to accomplish, a GIS map that pin points the location of the grid and provides its technical details, and a SCADA platform,” he explains. “Also, the dispatchers are always able to see the exact position of electricians in the field, thus making it possible to allocate the nearest operational team to the location where an energy outage occurs. In full transformation process to a SMART, fully digitized company, smart metering remains also one of the priorities of Distributie Oltenia.”

CEZ will continue its plans of operational digitization and process optimization started in the previous years.

“In 2019, we plan to invest 183 million RON in the network optimization, targeting the decrease of CPT and the identification of more efficient solutions for network connection, on the distribution side,” says Safar. “On the sales side, the clients’ needs and consumption preferences remain a constant focus point for us and the key premise for new product development. A good example of a new product developed in line with the tendencies and desires of the green generation is CEZ Verde an energy product that ensures to clients the use of 100% renewable energy in their homes and businesses.”

In the green energy production, CEZ aims to improve the operational process in order to maximize the level and continuity of the process: “Also this year, in the context of the Casa Verde project launch, we started to offer complementary services such as consultancy for solar panels installation. Moreover, energy efficiency remains a point of interest for us as we offer comprehensive services – from advisory to solutions design, from project management to complex energy sources (heat, cold and/or electricity) projects implementation in the private sector.”

CEZ Group in Romania is a strong promoter of new technology in all aspects of its activity.

“We continue our plans of operational digitization and process optimization started in the previous years when we set the grounds for digitization in all key processes,” says Safar

“Now, we are having significantly more digitalized data than ever before. Our next big challenge is to redefine our way of working using all the data we collected in a smart way in order to engage better customer experience.”

According to Safar, technology will be the biggest driver for change in the next years, influencing business strategies, legislation and work force altogether.

“The more accessible new technologies will be to the end client, the more significant the change, and we aim to be prepared to service and support our clients in that new era, as well,” he explains. “I am very confident we will see this transformation as an achievement, because this flexibility and drive to lead the change is one of my team’s greatest asset, aside from the high expertise level we have acquired. Nevertheless, the Romanian economic environment is one of the most competitive in the region, which will motivate its key players to adjust and adapt rapidly to the clients’ new demands.”

(From the print edition)