The winners of the Energy Networks Australia (ENA) Industry Awards were announced at the Energy Networks Australia Annual Dinner at ZINC at Federation Square, Melbourne. The Awards’ three major categories recognised exceptional contributions to the network sector, leadership in the development of new innovations and outstanding initiatives in consumer engagement.
Industry Contribution Award
2022 Industry Contribution Award winner, Laurie Curro
The Industry Contribution Award recognises exceptional individual contributions for activities or other initiatives undertaken on behalf of the network sector by a member of an ENA Committee.
The 2022 Industry Contribution Award was won by Laurie Curro from Horizon Power in Western Australia, for his contribution and commitment to the energy industry – in particular power transmission and distribution in Western Australia – over the past 30-plus years.
Mr Curro has made an outstanding contribution to the development and operation of the Southwest Interconnected System (with Western Power) and regional networks (with Horizon Power) and is well recognised as an industry leader in operational and control centre management.
Mr Curro was a member of ENA’s Asset Management Committee for many years, making significant contributions to smart grids development, standards, distributed generation, network management, safety, and asset management, and acting as a highly effective conduit between Western Australia and the east coast.
Mr Curro’s passion and industry leadership extends to promotion of STEM and young engineer development through collaborations with academia, Engineers Australia, the Electric Energy Society, and the Western Australian community more broadly.
Mr Curro’s retirement this year is a major loss to the sector and being awarded the 2022 Industry Contribution Award is a most appropriate recognition of his many years’ service.
Industry Innovation Award
The Energy Network Industry Innovation Award recognises leadership in the design, development and application of a ground-breaking Australian energy network initiative, technology, service or solution.
The 2022 Industry Innovation Award winner is Endeavour Energy for its entry ‘Using a Network Digital Twin for Digital Emergency Response and Resilience’.
The flood modelling within Endeavour’s network – digital twin – provides a virtual flood overlay across the modelled 3D network, an innovation that has been leveraged to improve public safety and restoration response times to several floods in the Hawkesbury region over 2021-2022.
It was used to model flood extents using near real-time river levels to obtain clearance levels of mains to flood waters and network assets and premises likely impacted by water. This was supported with an inspection app bringing back real-time information digitally from the field to expedite restoration and improve coordination between teams and partners.
A webinar will be held on Wednesday 12 October at 2pm AEST, in which the four finalists will present their projects and learnings:
- Endeavour Energy – Using a Network Digital Twin for Digital Emergency Response and Resilience
- Energy Queensland – EV SmartCharge Queensland – research program drives network benefits
- Essential Energy – Evolve DER project
- Transgrid – Use of SmartValve technology for the delivery of the Victoria-New South Wales Interconnector (VNI) Minor.
Click here to register your interest for the webinar.
Consumer Engagement Award
Energy Networks Australia – in partnership with Energy Consumers Australia – ran the 2022 Energy Network Consumer Engagement Award, which recognises an Australian energy network business that demonstrates outstanding leadership in consumer engagement.
The 2022 Consumer Engagement Award winners are AGN, AusNet Services and MGN for their joint nomination – Three Businesses, One Engagement Program for Victorians.
Why do network businesses run parallel but separate engagement programs when the objective is the same – to deliver valued services in the long-term interests of all customers? AGN, AusNet and MGN came together to design and deliver a single, integrated, statewide consumer and stakeholder engagement program for the benefit of all Victorians.
The joint engagement program was designed to inform and shape the submission of final plans to the AER on 1 July 2022 engaging with Victorians on gas services and prices today – and importantly on the future of gas.
A webinar will be held on Tuesday 18 October at 2pm AEST for the four finalists to present their projects and learnings:
- AGN, AusNet Services and MGN – Three Businesses, One Engagement Program for Victorians
- Endeavour Energy – Community Engagement Beyond a Bushfire
- Essential Energy – Customer Journey Mapping
- Western Power – Access Arrangement 5 – Community Engagement Program.
Click here to register your interest for the webinar.
