Early fault detection using smart meter voltage readings

As part of Northern Powergrid’s commitment to realising customer benefits from smart meters, it has been utilising smart meter voltage data to assist the Field Operations team with voltage queries and incidents on the network. Microsoft Power BI dashboards are used to visualise the voltage data and enable the Field Operations team to self-serve and analyse the voltage in specific areas of the network. Two types of dashboard have been developed: one is used reactively to respond to incoming queries and faults on the network; and the other one is used proactively to highlight potential faults developing within postcode districts. Voltage data can be requested by an engineer from properties with smart meters within the Northern Powergrid network and then displayed in an interactive dashboard. The teams can more accurately pinpoint the place where a cable repair needs to take place, remotely check customer voltage queries, and proactively identify developing faults. The benefits being realised from the trial include time and resources saved from quicker response times to new incoming complaints, reduced restoration times and reduced customer interruptions.