As the sole distribution network for gas and electricity in the Brussels capital region, Sibelga has a tremendous daily responsibility. With more than 1,000 employees, the company builds, maintains, and operates energy infrastructure and distribution, including public lighting,
for more than 1.8 million people in 19 municipalities.
To meet growing demand, Sibelga grants network access to various energy suppliers and performs meter reading and data validation. The organization exchanges critical information with suppliers, regulators, municipalities, and customers to ensure reliable service.
Modernizing the system
Prior to its partnership with Octave’s Safety & Infrastructure division, Sibelga faced a number of significant challenges. By 2005, its existing geographic information system (GIS) was obsolete and vendor support was no longer available. The company not only needed to find a new vendor, but also reduce the cost of software updates, integrate multiple GIS and dispatch tools, and simplify its IT architecture to reduce discrepancies and redundancies. Sibelga also needed a complete asset life-cycle management tool to ensure more efficient and accurate workflow processes.
Octave’s advanced utility GIS software met all of Sibelga’s expanding needs. With flexibility to configure the data model for both electricity and gas, Octave technology provided essential support for Sibelga’s assets and operations. Octave’s ability to determine technology requirements and collaborate with Sibelga’s team made it the optimal choice.
“We needed to consolidate all the existing information related to our network in order to build a reliable data set,” said Jean Perbal, department director, Gestion Réseaux, Sibelga. “Octave’s solution offered easy accessibility to the data and the ability to exploit it with a minimum cost in maintenance.”
Improving enterprise operations
The solution, known at Sibelga as “ATLAS,” is used across company departments, including operations, dispatching, asset management, service connections, IT, and others. System functionality includes end-to-end network management with capabilities such as real-time data access, network analysis (e.g., queries, tracing, reports, etc.), project management, detailed design, meter integration, ad hoc and batch plotting, incident response, and more.
The integration of all graphical and alphanumeric asset data in a single, unified database has substantially improved data quality and timeliness. Redesigned field processes have resulted in greater operational efficiency and performance, and ultimately, better service to customers.
“The IT department now has one unique, stable environment for our technical data, which provides more coherence and visibility into our IT architecture,” said Perbal.
Continuing innovation
Due to the success of the Octave system, Sibelga plans to add a module to manage its optical fiber telecommunications network. The company also anticipates using the module as the foundation for a real-time outage management system.
“Sibelga and Octave have established a positive relationship that includes ongoing support and evolution of our solution,” said Perbal.
