NSW to overhaul 'isolated' IT for energy savings scheme

The NSW independent regulator that determines the maximum prices for the state’s retail energy, water and transport services will replace several “old and isolated” systems to more effectively carry out the organisation’s functions under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) administers the NSW Government’s Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) and monitors and audits a number of water utilities and retail energy suppliers. 

The numerous systems it currently uses to manage its workflow and reporting are old and isolated with limited integration, IPART said in tender documents. In addition, most of its business processes are manual.

It has approached the market for the “discovery” of a single, integrated system which would also automate business processes. It plans to issue a second request for tender for the development of the system at a later date.

The new ESS system will be made up of an integrated database, internal Sharepoint 2013-based interface, and external interface based on the Seamless web content management system.

The inclusion of the web interface addresses the current system’s inability to accept applications for the scheme from third parties through an online interface.

The system will integrate with IPART’s HP TRIM document and record management system as well as Microsoft Outlook and Office.

The current ESS environment is a predominantly Microsoft shop, made up of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 and 2012, Sharepoint 2013, System Centre 2012, SQL, as well as Lync, Office and Exchange which are in line for 2013 version upgrades.

Given the nature of how data is stored at the organisation, IPART will need to migrate and consolidate data — which in some instances is duplicated — into the new system. Data is currently stored in Excel spreadsheets and in at least three other systems and portals. 

IPART is approaching the initial and development phases of the new system build with an agile mindset, based on iterative and continuous development.

It has highlighted trust among team members, a collaborative working relationship and collaboration based on co-location and “value delivery” as keys to success.