Acom system meets utility’s changing requirements

The Zetron Advanced Communications (Acom) system installed for South Australian utility SA Power Networks has proven its flexibility to support the utility’s needs over time.

SA Power Networks’ (formerly ETSA Utilities) overarching responsibility is to ensure that power is being delivered to homes and businesses throughout the state of South Australia. This undertaking involves a host of complex operations that the utility manages through its network operations centre (NOC).

Zetron’s Acom system was installed at the NOC to provide up-to-date, integrated communications. The system’s initial implementation met the utility’s requirements and performed beyond expectations. In addition to that, Acom’s flexibility has allowed several important system updates and expansions since it was first installed.

Errol Zobel, a project manager with SA Power Networks, explained the factors that first prompted them to seek a new communication system.

“Our previous equipment was not an integrated system but consisted of a combination of PABX extensions and a mobile radio system,” he said. “This limited the information displayed concerning the origin of a call and also didn’t allow us to prioritise calls to ensure that the most urgent calls would be handled first. We wanted to remedy this with a system that would give us more control and flexibility in these areas. We also wanted to integrate our mobile radios and  telephone system into the console so operators could move between them smoothly and communications between the systems would be seamless.”

The project was completed to the satisfaction of everyone involved, and over the next few years the system delivered the improved functionality for which it had been chosen.

In 2011, it underwent its first major update and expansion. The project included both an update of the Acom software and the addition of a disaster recovery (DR) site about 9 km north of SA Power Networks’ headquarters.

“The DR’s purpose,” said Zetron Australasia project manager John Kitchen, “is to provide continuity of operations if the main NOC must ever be evacuated or its operations are interrupted.”

Another update is underway and scheduled to be completed at the end of 2012. It involves installing Zetron speakers and desk microphones at the main centre and increasing the number of consoles at both the NOC and the DR to a total of 31 positions.

According to Zobel, the utility is satisfied with the system and the ways in which it supports their operations.

“The Acom has met or exceeded the goals we set for it in the initial project,” he said. “Our staff are pleased with its performance. Our operators find it very easy to use and understand, which is extremely important in an environment where the workload can be very demanding. And we appreciate that the system is easy to modify and that Zetron provides such good support. We are happy with the current incarnation of the system and confident in its ability to support us well into the future.”