AGL IT project worth 10,000 customers a year

AGL has pegged the payback on its early adoption of in-memory analytics at around 10,000 additional customers a year in Victoria.

The utility is an early adopter of SAP's HANA platform, which it has tied into other SAP systems to manage data generated by smart meters in Victoria.

The HANA implementation was performed by a joint team of AGL, SAP and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) staff in Melbourne and Kolkata. The "peak team" numbered around 65 staff.

The project budget was $16.85 million, and work was completed in time for a go-live in May 2013. 

AGL last week revealed a long list of qualitative and quantitative benefits to be derived from the technology in an extensive blog post published by SAP.

They include data aggregation processes being cut from from weeks to hours enabling faster forecasting and more timely decision-making.

AGL also said the system allows the utility to identify "more unbilled customers … in a timelier manner".

"Identifying an unbilled customer earlier in the process means less revenue leakage," the utility said.

The HANA system is also said to have enabled AGL to price electricity tariffs "based on critical peak pricing".

"Greater pricing accuracy allows AGL to be more competitive, helping secure roughly 10,000 additional customers each year."

The AGL implementation is a candidate for an inaugural SAP HANA Innovation Award. AGL is Australia's only shortlisted entrant.