Bass Strait Islands metering data solution

Client: Hydro Tasmania
Location: Bass Strait islands, Australia
Date: 2024-25

Providing new digital solutions to manage electricity metering data

Background

Hydro Tasmania owns and operates the electricity generation and distribution systems on Flinders Island and King Island in the Bass Strait, situated between Tasmania and mainland Australia. Hydro Tasmania’s energy retailing business, Momentum Energy, handles electricity bills, connections and customer care for these island communities. Providing the best service to customers relies on accurate electricity metering data.

Hydro Tasmania’s meter administration team access and manage electricity meter data and related datasets using a GIS map. Previously, this functionality was provided through Esri’s ‘Classic Map Viewer’ application, which allowed users to interact with data in a tabular format. However, with Esri’s planned retirement of the ‘Classic Map Viewer’ in 2025, the team needed an alternative solution to maintain continuity of operations and to enhance usability.

Solution

To ensure seamless continuity, Entura’s spatial and data specialists developed a new interactive mapping experience using Esri’s ‘Experience Builder’ as a direct replacement for ‘Classic Map Viewer’. We designed the new solution to replicate existing functionalities while also introducing improvements for users.

Our implementation approach began with gathering feedback from the meter administration team about the essential functionalities they required, the current pain points, and ideas for enhancements. We then developed a prototype in ‘Experience Builder’, mirroring key features of the ‘Classic Map Viewer’. Multiple rounds of user acceptance testing (UAT) were conducted to refine the tool based on real-world usage. Finally, we rolled out the ultimate solution, ensuring a smooth transition and adoption by providing targeted training to users.

Outcome

Our implementation of Esri’s ‘Experience Builder’ has provided our client with a robust, reliable, user-friendly and futureproof solution for managing meter data. By leveraging modern GIS technologies to replace a discontinued system, we have made the new solution more scalable and sustainable, supporting long-term adaptability.

The new system ensures operational continuity by enabling the meter administration team to continue to access and manage meter master data without disruption. Instead of a ‘like-for-like’ replacement, we’ve provided an improved interface and better functionality, which has enhanced the user experience with streamlined workflows, greater efficiency and better performance. By eliciting and incorporating feedback from our end-users, we have created a solution that aligns closely with the needs and expectations of the team now and will serve them better into the future.

Our client noted that the solution was delivered not only on time, but also under budget – and commented on how quickly we incorporated, tested and deployed users’ requests.