Mihai Sandica, E-Distributie: “Digitalization is top priority for E-Distributie in 2022”

“The whole world is moving towards clean, green energy, instead of classic energy sources such as coal and gas. This of course means electrifying consumption. We will cook on the basis of electricity. We will drive an electric car much more often. This means that electricity will take the lead even in sectors where it was not previously present. This reality overlaps with the reality we are currently experiencing, namely the conflict in Ukraine, which of course accelerates this electrification process and accelerates the finding of alternatives to Russian gas. All these initiatives are not possible without electricity transmission and distribution networks, which are much more reliable, flexible and resilient,” Mihai Sandica, Head of I&N Digital Hub, E-Distributie said during Digital Transformation Conference – Energy & Utilities organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest.

“Digitalization is top priority for E-Distributie in 2022. We have invested over 190 million euros in networks in 2021 alone in dozens of large projects for digitalization or smart metering stations with millions of beneficiaries. We have maintained a high volume of investments during this period, even during the health crisis.

We are the distributor with the largest number of smart meters installed in Romania: over 1.3 million smart meters. We try to continue our ambitious plan for energy efficiency in every home.

Earlier this year we announced the launch of a digital service called Virtual Visit to simplify some processes such as connection, power boost. This virtual tour is an alternative to the visit made by our field technicians.

The society we live in is changing, and the role of the energy distributor is essential. We are already seeing important changes not only in the big cities, but also in the surrounding localities. We have hybrid buses, electric buses that have replaced the old ones. The number of electric cars doubles every year. All this requires charging points in the distribution network. More and more consumers are becoming prosumers and examples can go on.

The distribution network is already absorbing all these changes, and this would not have been possible without investments in modernization and digitalization. Without digitalization, the crises we are currently going through would have had a much more serious impact on our lives.

The pace of investment in the past years must be maintained, and digitalization remains the key. We combine our legacy systems with various new technologies that will help us work more efficiently and faster.”

Full recording of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3n2T29iadE