Reliability of UNEG, building a smart grid and effective management of the Company’s business are based on the use of advanced and modern information and communications technology. Our Company has been building the Energy System’s Unified Process Communications Network (ESUPCN), which focuses on the digitalisation of the network and on making it smart.
HOW DO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES PROMOTE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES THAT ARE OUTLINED IN FEDERAL GRID COMPANY’S LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME?
“Implementation of automated management projects provides for centralisation and automation of business processes in finance management, development of the corporate investment programme and investment budget, and storage and processing of financial documents. These solutions help to lower the risks of inappropriate use of funds and financial risks in settlements with counterparties, increase the transparency of accounting and reduce accounting-related labour costs.
In the management of the Company’s investment programme, automated IT systems help to improve the quality and accuracy of decisions when projects are selected. They also ensure more transparent calculations of financing required for investment projects, and efficient control over their implementation.
Installation of modern equipment and new generation communication technologies at the electric grid facilities provides for better management of the Company’s operations and processes, and improves reliability of power supply to customers.”
ARE THERE ANY EXAMPLES TO DEMONSTRATE SUCCESSFUL IMPORT SUBSTITUTION IN THE IT AREA: DOES FEDERAL GRID COMPANY EMPLOY ANY DOMESTIC IT SYSTEMS AND IT SOLUTIONS?
“We began gradually substituting some foreignmade software platforms for their Russian analogues – this work is part of our Import Substitution Programme. We harmonise the accounting systems in our subsidiaries on the basis of 1C software solutions, transfer Federal Grid Company’s geoinformation system to a Russian-made platform, and install an Enterprise Asset Management designed by Russian producers.
In 2015, the Company installed a system of corporate identification and electronic digital signature. Only Russian software is used in this system.
We proactively use Russian equipment for the development of our telecommunication networks. For example, almost 80% of HF communication systems are produced in Russia. Domesticallymade PABXs are also widely used.”
In order to improve operations and process management, the Company digitalises communication channels of the automated dispatch control system (ADCS) and automated process control system (APCS) at the level “Object – Dispatch Centre.” In 2015, digitalisation level in the Company was about 75%.
Comprehensive development of the Unified Process Communications Network helped to reduce the Company’s operating costs substantially. In 2015, the costs of process and corporate communications per one power facility of Federal Grid Company decreased by 16.5%.
While implementing its IT strategy in accordance with the Programme for Import Substitution of Equipment, Technologies, Materials and Systems for 2015–2019, Federal Grid Company prefers to use Russian-made equipment and software at all levels of process management.
Digitalisation of Federal Grid Company’s Electric Grid Facilities
Unit Costs per One Power Facility, RUB mln
Share of Russian-Made
Communications Equipment, %
Structure of the Uniform Communications Network in the Electric Power Industry and Technologies Employed in This Network
Fibre-optic communications network (FOCN)
This is the basic communications network for the energy system. It is based on the use of a fibre-optic cable which is suspended on overhead electricity transmission lines.
Federal Grid Company co-operates with telecom operators on the basis of long-term reciprocal lease.
Total Length of FOCN, thousand kilometres
In 2015
Federal Grid Company completed construction of 3,664 kilometres of FOCN at the following facilities: Kostroma – Kirov (MES Ural), Bolchary – Kartopia (MES Western Siberia), Kyzylskaya – Chadan (MES Siberia), Konakovo Hydro Power Station – Kalininskaya – Novaya – Kalininskaya Nuclear Power Station (MES Centre), Rostov Nuclear Power Station – Tikhoretskaya (MES South).
Cable lines constructed by the Company itself account for the largest share of FOCN (59%), while the rest are either rented (14%) or have the right of passage (27%).
High-frequency (HF) communications via electricity transmission lines
This process communications network uses phase wires and cables of overhead transmission lines to carry signals.
Commissioning of HF Communications Systems at UNEG Substations
In 2015
Federal Grid Company upgraded some HF communications system facilities and decommissioned some other equipment because FOCNs were operationalised. In the reporting year, Federal Grid Company installed 393 half-sets of HF communications. The Company’s facilities now have 11,442 such half-sets.
Telephone communications network
Based on the radial and hub network principle, the power industry’s telephone communications network provides for interaction with the process network of the System Operator and other electricity market participants.
Commissioning of Telephone Switching Systems at UNEG Substations
In 2015
Federal Grid installed 50 PABXs
at the electric grid facilities of its
branches, as well as systems for
recording operational personnel
communication, DECT wireless
communications systems and
loudspeaker and radio searching
communications systems.
Automated Process Control System
The automated process control system (APCS) is a Company-wide system for the management of UNEG operations and development, so it integrates the devices and systems for the automated dispatch, processing and operational activities of the Company’s administration and MES / PMES services. It also embraces tools and subsystems of the automated control systems that exist and develop on their own (such as APCS, IATS, ADCS, RPA, EFMS), thus providing the necessary interface for interaction with the management control systems of the System Operator and distribution grid companies. In 2015, as part of the project “Development of the Automated Process Control System (APCS),” the Company completed a pilot project of an integrated APCS for MES North-West. This APCS ensures automated integration of all information-sharing and process systems on the basis of one networkwide model. As a result, employees of the process units in this branch receive updated information about the condition of UNEG facilities. They also have the tools for analysis and identification of contingency situations, remote management of equipment, and access to the database of UNEG regulations and reference information.THE AUTOMATED PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM
allows both operational and non-operational functions to be performed by Electric Grid Control Centres, improves the efficiency of UNEG mode control by allowing a high level of observability, prevents outages and reduces the time for decisionmaking and the likelihood of errors by operational employees in emergency situations
In the reporting year, the Company continued the development of the automated systems for dispatch and process management in the grid management centres of Amur, Khabarovsk and Primorie PMES.
The Company and JSC System Operator of UES ran joint projects in 2015 to develop remote management of equipment at several substations of MES North- West, Centre, South and East from Federal grid Company’s grid management centres and the System Operator’s dispatch centres.
Development of Corporate Information Management System
The development of corporate information management system (CIMS) is regulated by Federal Grid Company’s IT strategy for 2014–2020, which was approved by the Management Board in 2014.
The following most important CIMS projects were completed in 2015:
- The automated company-wide Treasury system improved effectiveness and optimisation of the financial function in Federal Grid Company and its subsidiaries, and strengthened financial control
- The automated system for posting information about procurement and a list of procurementbased contracts on the corporate website. This system helped to reduce labour costs related to compliance with the federal law requirements about posting information on the official website of government procurement
A CORPORATE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
ensures comprehensive automation of the Company’s main business processes; improves manageability of Federal Grid via centralisation and systematisation of all available information and providing prompt access to it; and helps to reduce costs via more efficient spending of funds
In 2016, the Company will continue developing CIMS and intends to install the following systems:
- An automated system for managing the Company’s investment budget. This results in higher quality and effectiveness of budgeting
- An automated system for managing the supply of personal protection means to employees. This helps to optimise planning, recording and supply of such means
- A subsystem for electronic digital signature of documents in order to ensure legally relevant electronic centralised approval of requests for payment and making payments in the Company
- An automated system for the management of electronic archive services in order to improve effectiveness and quality of operations as part of business processes that are based on primary documents, by providing centralised access to the electronic repository of documents