There are many technical aspects of the transition to a low carbon economy. The ALoMCP web application was commissioned by the energy industry Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) and National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) to address one of them.

The programme requires generation owners to modify or change relays and other devices to meet new guidelines for loss of mains protection outlined in ENA Engineering Recommendation G59. The first component of the programme is a process intensive application for funding from NGESO via DNOs whereby the generator can claim up to £4,000 per relay that is replaced. This goes through a complex workflow process requiring the applicant to input technical data about their installation and then requiring agreement in principle from the DNO first and then from NGESO before processing the data through various steps until the generation owner enters details of the changed/new loss of mains settings, is then paid by the DNO and the DNO reimbursed by NGESO. The system also allows downloads in CSV format, which differ according to authorisation levels and, due to their size, have to be built by a scheduled process that runs each morning rather than on-demand. The system is built in .NET and SQL Server and the database is encrypted to meet the high standards of privacy requested by the programme team. A further module was added in June 2021 that allows generation owners whose equipment is already compliant to submit a declaration of compliance via a web form carefully designed to capture the minimum data required to be useful to DNOs/NGESO and encourage generators to submit technical information where it is available.

We’ve developed a comprehensive trading, reporting and back office management tool for a wealth management client (name withheld here for security reasons). The system is called Phoenix and allows the portfolio management team to analyse holdings, compare to model portfolios and generate trades to rebalance or to reflect investment decisions. The system is developed in Microsoft Access and runs with a SQL Server back end. It incorporates various feeds including a feed from the custodian bank in SWIFT format. It also features reconciliation functionality. Our role in Phoenix stands out for its flexibility and reactivity. Both portfolio managers and operations managers are continuously looking to improve and streamline processes. We react extremely positively and quickly to all new ideas such that, since 2012, the system has been subject to more than 100 version updates – some little more than tweaks, others major additions such as quarter end client reporting.

PowerDev have developed a system for the Energy Networks Association (ENA) to reconcile call charges for the electricity supply single emergency number (SEN) 105. This number is usually called to report electricity supply power cuts. The system imports call data from a downloaded text file and checks each call to ensure it has been charged at the correct tariff. The system also creates invoice information based on where each call has been made from, so that calls can be charged to the correct service recipient.
The system was developed as an MS Access front-end, with a SQL Server back-end, and processes hundreds of thousands of records each month. The system outputs PDF and MS Excel reports for validation and invoicing purposes. The call reconciliation uncovers frequent tariff discrepancies that are taken up with the provider.

In the event of an energy emergency, the ENA must ensure that customers’ energy needs are met according to priority. Essential environments (hospitals, emergency services, vulnerable customers etc.) must all be protected from power outages in such emergencies. Domestic customers must be treated fairly to ensure that even in the unusual event of planned outages they do have supply at times of the day for cooking etc. The RLD system collates information from all electricity suppliers who allocate a rota block letter by postcode which is used to manage electricity shortages during emergency periods. This will ensure that customers are off supply for the minimum possible duration, whilst ensuring the national grid has supply to meet all essential connections.
PowerDev’s system collates information sent in in Excel or CSV format into a web-based lookup system which allows a postcode to be entered and essential RLD data to be displayed.

PowerDev supplied their Circle membership database to the Institute of Corrosion (ICorr) and their sister trade body Correx. Over several years PowerDev have customised Circle so that it has been integrated with document management/scanning software, websites and prints professional membership cards including photographs using Zebra card printers. The database has been upgraded from MS Access to MS SQL Server to ensure stability and optimum performance.
ICorr and Correx rely heavily on the custom reporting functionality built into Circle that enables data export into Word at the click of a button.

PowerDev have continued developing the Circle membership database at the Athenaeum Club. This has included adding in a cellar stock reconciliation module, which allows stock (primarily drinks) to be ordered from various different locations (dining room, bar etc.) from the cellar to ensure stock levels are maintained throughout the club. This has been integrated into the existing MS Access/MS SQL Server Circle database.
PowerDev have also been asked to link the Circle database to the Opera accounting software package and have submitted a proposal to deliver a solution based on linking SQL Server databases within the same SQL instance.

PowerDev have been developing and supporting an Australian bank’s Migrant Banking System for 9 years. The system records details of UK nationals who are in the process of, or have already embarked on, permanent or temporary moves to Australia and New Zealand. This aids the bank and it’s customers in setting up bank accounts in Australia and New Zealand and transferral of funds from UK banks to their foreign bank accounts. The system is used daily by up to thirty users, and processes front and back office functions for the bank.

The system has been developed with an MS Access 2010 front-end, with data held in MS SQL Server 2008, and runs on the bank’s London network. As a result of the global recession concerns over the security of individuals’ savings held within bank accounts has come under increased scrutiny. As a result PowerDev were asked in late 2013/early 2014 to develop an output for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) which gives individuals’ bank balances and their compensatable amounts in the unlikely event that the bank should fail. This involves merging a feed from the bank’s MIDAS accounts system based in Sydney with the information stored in the Migrant Banking System in London, and extracting information in MS Excel for processing by the FSCS. PowerDev are currently working with the bank and the FSCS to ensure that the data conforms to strict FSCS guidelines.

The Security Incident Reporting System (SIRS) provides a means for recording incidents of theft of metal and other incidents, primarily on the electricity network but also on telecoms networks. The system was commissioned by the Security Task Group (STG) in 2008 and is managed by the Energy Networks Association (ENA), which provides a range of services to its members from the Electricity and Gas generation, transmission and supply industries. The system consists of a .NET web application with a SQL Server database and is integrated with several third party components, which convert HTML to PDF and bundle incident files (the PDF and any other files uploaded with the incident including photos, police reports etc) into a single zip file in order to facilitate data storage and sharing.

The system has several hundred users including representatives from all UK police forces. It is used very extensively by British Transport Police. Approximately 20 incidents are submitted to the system each weekday.

The system was originally envisaged as an intelligence tool for security managers and law enforcement agencies and was designed to encourage users to input a range of detail about each incident. This worked well but the sheer volume of incidents being reported hadn’t been anticipated at the outset and those organisations suffering the largest number of incidents found it difficult to resource data input. The STG therefore approached PowerDev to streamline the system by simplifying the data entry of the most commonly reported metal theft incidents and by providing a bulk upload mechanism. The bulk upload allows users to extract data from internal systems, validate it and upload to the server where it is picked up by a scheduled process and appended to the live data. These changes were implemented on the live system over the weekend of 8/9 March 2014 to the considerable relief of a number of users.

Having run a heavily modified version of PowerDev’s Circle membership database for five years, users at the Athenaeum Club started to report performance issues culminating in several incidents of database corruption. Whilst these were quickly fixed, they were indicative that the system was reaching Microsoft Access’ limits. The club therefore accepted PowerDev’s proposal to upgrade the system by replacing the server database that was running in Access 2003 with SQL Server 2008 R2 and upgrading the Circle client from Access 2003 to Access 2013. This was co-ordinated with an upgrade of the server, network and PCs at the club. Users at the Athenaeum are currently testing the upgraded system but are already delighted with the speed improvement.

The Smarter Networks Portal has been developed by Powerdev for the Energy Networks Association (ENA) as an information sharing tool currently aimed at Electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) with the intention to roll out to Electricity Transmission Network Operators and Gas Distribution Network Operators in the future.

The UK has ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions by 2020. In order to achieve these targets, significant changes will be required in the way electricity is generated, distributed and used. The government’s Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF) provides grants to encourage innovation in the industry in areas such as efficient low voltage networks, electric vehicles, integrating solar, wind and other renewable generation into existing networks. Initially the Smarter Networks Portal will be a repository for all information regarding projects funded by the LCNF but its scope is likely to be extended at a later date.

The website is built in HTML5 within .NET 2010 using frameworks that adapt to screen size and was developed with expert assistance on the front end from our design partner Erwan Bézie. Data is held on a SQL Server 2008 R2 database and the system is hosted on the ENA’s dedicated web server, which is administrated by Powerdev. A second version, which will address feedback returned by selected users during the intervening period is scheduled for a ‘hard launch’ at the beginning of Q2 2013.