Market Transition from Low to High Gas
The Lovion Solution for the Market Transition
The market transition from l- to h-gas underlies technical and legal requirements which have to be considered during the transformation process. Lovion BIS offers a solution with pre-configurable products to help assist during the market transition phase.
The implementation is based on standard Lovion work management tools, which have already been used by numerous companies. The following products are available:
- Lovion WORK – for creating market transition tasks
- Lovion DISPATCH – tasks and resources are dispatched and managed using the Gantt diagram
- Lovion TASK APP – Work management for android and iOS devices
- Lovion DOCUMENTS – Data-based document management
- Lovion TIME SHEET – wage and working hours can be recorded
- Lovion VIEW – Mapping all types of georeferenced data
- Lovion EXPLORE – for editing data in lists, maps and object trees
- Lovion MRU CONNECT – interface for the DVGW gas device database
A detailed description of the above work management products can be found on the page Solutions: Work Management and at the bottom of this page. Below is a detailed description of the specialised Lovion solution for the market transition.
Initial Situation
Currently, gas supply in the western and northern parts of Germany mainly consist of l-gas. As a result of the continuously decreasing l-gas supply, the Grid Development Plan (NEP) will regulate the market transition from low- to high-caloric gas until about 2030. Regional and communal supply networks are required to make the transition and have to replace gas consumption utilities and assets. Only this will maintain the high quality and safety standards of gas supply.
The gas supply network transition and newly required technical equipment falls within the network supplier’s jurisdiction according to § 19 a 'EnWG – Umstellung der Gasqualität'. The process of refitting technical gas consumer equipment involved in the gas transition has already been done and tested by various gas providers. However, the size of the transition as well as the associated technical and logistical challenges remain large. In addition, rising costs are forcing supply companies to evaluate efficient and economical instruments to support this process.
Guidelines form a framework for gas supply companies and support planning processes for carrying out the transition as well as quality tests. Especially the DVGW Arbeitsblatt G 680 (A) and DVGW Merkblatt G 695 (M) fall under the network provider’s jurisdiction.
Lovion supports market transition processes in line with defined guidelines and offers standardised modules for work management, mobile work and response tools as well as tools for quality assurance. Fundamental software-supported Tasks for the market transition are:
- Device registration
- Planning the equipment retrofitting process
- Retrofitting equipment
- Quality assurance
These tasks have to be planned and monitored.
Device Registration
Creating Registration Tasks
Devices are registered prior to the transition phase in order to plan future modifications. Relevant information and associated data includes affected gas connections, corresponding meter points, meters and gas devices. In addition, master and movement data is recorded. Usually, this data is not available in the IT system and has to be imported into the Lovion database via standard interfaces for ERP systems, GIS and EDM systems.
Spatial GIS data can be used to carry out georeferenced tasks, e.g. tasks within a district etc. These also include topological information about the gas network.
With Lovion, it is possible to combine available source data and visualizations in one interface.
The information and transition timetable includes affected people from the source system. These include connected customers, energy customers, device operators as well as tenants and property owners.
A registration task always refers to one gas connection. First, the task is created based on its source data before it is assigned a resource and terminated in Lovion. Tasks which lie in close proximity to one another and have a similar timeframe are combined into work packages. This eliminates unnecessary travel times. Appointments for evaluating devices can be planned as scheduled tasks. In addition, serial post notifications for scheduled tasks can be created and documented in Lovion.
Executing Registration Tasks
The registration task can be carried out by the gas supply company or a service provider. Equipment is registered with the help of the DVGW device database. Information regarding registered devices (currently about 17 000) is also available on mobile devices and online. With the help of quick filters, devices can be matched efficiently and accurately.
Unregistered devices can be entered into the database and forwarded to the DVGW using their workflow.
The registration task consists of numerous subtasks, depending on existing meters and connected gas devices. When the task is dispatched, all subtasks are dispatched as well.
During a registration task, the device is matched with other devices in a database. Furthermore, the serial number is recorded in order to pinpoint the exact model, type and manufacturer including other checkpoints.
Market Transition with Lovion - Screenshots
Various roles in the process can be assigned to different people. Thus, all relevant employee data including their roles can be captured and supplemented during mobile use. Additional personal data will help to simplify communication in the future.
During the registration process, (status) data of house connections and meters can be recorded und supplemented with additional data in the system. Furthermore, tasks associated with other assets can be linked, executed or documented (gas pressure regulator, internal pipeline components, meters …).
Completing Registration Tasks
In the last step, the device is categorised according to the DVGW classification system which include the following transition groups: A, B, C or D. In addition, the device also receives a sticker, indicating the necessity to replace the device. Optionally, it is also possible to add barcodes to devices for identifying them in future when the retrofitting process takes place. It is mandatory to document photos of stickers, barcodes and labels along with distinctive features.
Planning the Equipment Retrofitting Process
When planning the equipment retrofitting process, all mobile data is evaluated. Lovion supports the transition phase with a range of filters and report tools that take into account master data, process data as well as spatial information for future transitions.
Equipment Retrofitting
Generating Equipment Retrofitting Tasks
The equipment retrofitting follows after the device registration and data assessment of installed devices. These also require thorough preparation.
All relevant data for executing the transition are contained within the Lovion database. Registered equipment is evaluated with the help of the Lovion system and is divided into equipment categories. Required material for replacing equipment is calculated using the database. In addition, a list of necessary material is created and forwarded to the procurement department. Relevant people and affected partners who are involved in the process are informed via customer post notifications (serial postage). Thus, they are informed about the upcoming transition.
The transition phase is a complex task, which is divided into numerous subtasks associated to meters and their adjoining equipment. Similar to the device registration process, these tasks are referenced to the gas house connection.
Transition tasks are always referenced to a registered device. Preparations are carried out in the office. The execution of the transition depends on affected group components, the district and available resources from Lovion DISPATCH. Resources include company personnel as well as external service providers. Employees are managed and configured in Lovion WORK and Lovion DISPATCH. A part of the quality assurance includes assessing qualified workers. Tasks in Lovion can only be dispatched to personnel with appropriate qualifications. These tasks are appointment tasks which are coordinated with respective gas operators. Once again, the standard tools for producing postage and email notifications are used in order to ensure a smooth transition.
Tasks with a similar spatial and temporal context are summarised into task packages in order to prevent unnecessary travelling times. An optional component is to optimise the routing.
Executing the Retrofitting Task
In order to carry out the retrofitting task, the required material has to either be collected from the warehouse or delivered by service providers. The list of materials is part of the electronic task. Lovion ROUTING can be used to improve the efficiency of travelling routes.
The barcode helps to identify devices on site. Retrofitting the equipment can be concluded. All required tasks as well as testing and altering the settings of the device for operational use are documented.
Mobile Device retrofitting with the Lovion APP
In order to attain a precise result of the meter reading for the gas quality transition, the meter reading of each corresponding meter point/meter is also documented so that they can be distinguished from one another when the billing is due.
Completing the Device Exchange
Once the exchange has been completed, the device ist marked as such. In addition, further specific details are documented.
The device is labelled with a sticker regarding the exchange. A photo documentation of the sticker, barcode and tag is compulsory.
Quality Assurance
Establishing Quality Assurance Tests
After the equipment has been registered, the quality of the completed retrofitting is continuously assessed for quality assurance purposes according to the guidelines of the DVGW Merkblatt G 695 (M).
This is a mobile task which incorporates at least 10 % of all retrofitted equipment and at least 10 % of equipment associated with the equipment group. Tests are performed in line with Attachment B of the info sheet – Examplary test protocol for assessing the performed device registration, refitting and transition measures (English translation) – and can be measured with a point system provided in Attachment A – A point system for assessing the results of gas device tests for refitting and transition measures (English translation).
Gas equipment test tasks for equipment groups and single components can be proposed by the system or created manually.
Implementing Quality Assurance
This task is carried out in line with Attachment B of the info sheet G 695 (M) – Examplary test protocol for assessing the performed device registration, refitting and transition measures (English translation). During the test phase, the allocated points are based on Attachment A - A point system for assessing the results of the gas device tests for refitting and transition measures. These can be evaluated afterwards.
If a defect is identified during the device exchange, the technician can correct it himself. In special cases, a follow-up task can be created to remove the defect. The device can also be taken out of operation.
Completing the Equipment Assessment
After quality assurance has been concluded, the equipment is labelled as 'completed' and all relevant information is documented. In addition, the device is labelled with a sticker of the quality assurance test. A photo documenting the label, barcode and sticker are mandatory.
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