Improving the operational efficiency of fault repairing with partnership management

Improving the operational efficiency of fault repairing is the target that every DSO is aiming for. Striving for shorter customer interruption times and lower costs are evident. Typically DSOs approach this from a very technical perspective for example evaluating distribution automation investments. This certainly has a beneficial impact but the improvement of the real operational fault repairing must not be ignored. The efficiency and actions of the electricians in the field repairing a fault are at least as important. An increasing number of DSOs have outsourced their noncore functions including fault repairing and are purchasing services from external service providers. The improvement of the services providers´ operational efficiency can be achieved with a successful partnership management. This paper presents partnership management actions that have had a beneficial impact on the operational efficiency of fault repairing. In sum, this paper challenges the traditional thinking regarding measuring employee performances, hourly-based invoicing in fault repairing and granting external service provider companies to have access to the Distribution Management System.