For more than 70 years, Jersey Electricity relied solely on hand-drawn diagrams of its electricity network. This traditional approach to recording the locations of assets was skilled but highly laborious and gradually led to inaccuracies in the organisation’s records. To remedy this, in the late 1990s, the organisation began to use computer-aided design (CAD) software packages, but the process of creating and maintaining network drawings remained time-consuming.

Critically, Jersey Electricity’s employees could not access network information easily, which impeded the company’s ability to respond to emergencies. In addition, field-based engineers still relied on paper-based diagrams and maps when carrying out repairs or installing new infrastructure. Cognisant of its responsibilities as the island’s sole power supplier, Jersey Electricity decided to embark on a comprehensive digital transformation to help it deliver the robust, safe and resilient electricity infrastructure needed by its 55,000 customers.

Jersey Electricity’s goal extended beyond simply installing a digital mapping system; it aimed to build a live, geolocated data platform accessible to all employees. The utility company selected Esri’s ArcGIS system and began to roll out a suite of geographic information system (GIS) solutions, supported by Esri UK’s Gold Partner in the Channel Islands, Digimap. Digimap helped to ensure a smooth implementation of ArcGIS, provided the local mapping data for the island and supported Jersey Electricity with the creation of a fully digitised, geospatial inventory of its assets within ArcGIS Enterprise.

During the course of the project, Jersey Electricity used ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Field Maps to create accurate, live, web maps, providing staff with instant access to data about cables, substations and overhead power lines, from their desktops, phones and tablets. Salwa Collas, Team Lead (Drawing Office) and ArcGIS Engineer at Jersey Electricity says, “Bringing in ArcGIS has had a crucial impact on the mapping quality and the accessibility of our data.”

The implementation of ArcGIS has been particularly transformative in the field, as Conor Carré, Construction Engineer at Jersey Electricity, explains. “Thinking back to our old way of working, it was very archaic. Out on site, we used to be heavily reliant on our paper-based job packs, which wasn’t a very efficient way of working. ArcGIS has filled in the missing part of the puzzle. Having this functionality out in the field is a massive benefit to all of us.”

Jersey Electricity, in partnership with Digimap, is now pursuing a robust integration between ArcGIS and its core business applications, including systems for asset management, power modelling, metering and health and safety, which is contributing to more streamlined business processes. In addition, the company is using ArcGIS to analyse its network data geospatially for the first time, to gain fresh insight into electricity usage and risks from climate change.

Improved collaboration and customer communication
Jersey Electricity is now undoubtedly reaping the benefits of its investment in a GIS-based, live data information platform. All teams across the organisation now use the same, geospatially-accurate network data, which improves their ability to collaborate as well as respond to customer queries. “Having all our complex infrastructure assets in one map is the heartbeat of the company and is pivotal and instrumental not only for us, but for our customers,” says Collas.

More efficient business processes
Improved access to network information is helping to streamline key business processes, shorten delivery times and achieve cost-efficiencies across Jersey Electricity. The organisation expects to particularly benefit from having its low voltage network mapped in ArcGIS, as Mark Preece, Chief Operating Officer of Jersey Electricity explains. “What is really powerful for an organisation like ourselves is that we have been able to create a digital twin of the low voltage network. It’s something that we are really proud of and it’s going to save us a lot of money in the future.”

Greater safety for field-based teams
Whether they are maintaining network assets or installing new infrastructure, engineers working in the field can use ArcGIS on their mobile devices to instantly see live network data. This improves site safety and minimises the risk of accidental damage to electricity cables. “Every single asset that the company owns is now recorded in ArcGIS,” says Carré. “Having everything at our finger tips is just completely different – life-changing to be honest.”

Rapid responses to emergency incidents
ArcGIS dramatically improves Jersey Electricity’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies, such as the wide-spread power-outages that occurred when Storm Cieran devastated Jersey. On that occasion, a fierce tornado ripped right across the island, destroying seven electricity pylons. “ArcGIS was really pivotal in our response to Storm Cieran,” recalls Preece. “It helped us to get customers back on, in a more managed and effective way than would otherwise have been possible.”

Better scenario analysis to inform future planning
ArcGIS is now playing a key role in helping Jersey Electricity to plan for the future, prepare more effectively for the impacts of climate change, like flooding, and meet the requirements of the Jersey government’s net zero carbon incentive scheme. “ArcGIS enables us to model different scenarios and understand the impact of different levels of electric use on the network,” Preece says. “We can, therefore, plan for the future and make sure that the infrastructure is fit for purpose, ahead of when it is needed.”