Essential Energy accelerates digital push

Essential Energy is embarking on its next phase of technology transformation with a renewed focus on digital transformation and cyber security.

The energy company has launched a new digital resiliency program focused on updating and strengthening its technology systems and platforms.

Essential Energy is currently hiring for several different roles to execute the strategy.

Coming almost two years after Essential Energy laid out plans for a massive technology refresh, the new digital resiliency program is targeting “security, efficiency and scalability to meet future operational and regulatory needs”.

“Essential Energy’s digital strategy looks to modernise, secure and enable innovation while building the foundations to support the rapidly evolving energy landscape,” said Brad Flanagan, Essential Energy’s head of digital operations.

“The digital resilience project will bolster cybersecurity, improve system resilience, and support the innovation that is needed to enable more renewables on the network.”

A critical enabler

The internet of things (IoT) will form a core part of the digital resilience strategy, particularly around data collection from smart metres and sensors.

Essential Energy said it has built, what it calls, a an innovation hub where it is developing IoT sensors and smart metres.

This, according to Flanagan, will “enhance data collection processes, leading to improved operational efficiency”.

“The strategy focuses on supporting the business to identify, invent and adopt IoT in a controlled environment.”