Page 115 - KELAG Annual Report 2017

who have a smart meter have been gradually expanded. In (Verwaltungsgerichtshof - VwGH). In June 2016, the federal
the social media channels of the Group, record figures for administrative court stated in an appeal hearing that no
fan numbers, reach, interactions and video views were environmental impact assessment approval is required for
achieved this year. For the first time, more than 1,000 items the 220/110 kV Villach Süd support grid project. This was
are on sale in the KELAG-myShop. The area of online confirmed in June 2017 by the rejection by the Austrian
advertising is expanded on an ongoing basis. With cross- Higher Administrative Court of the extraordinary appeal
media campaigns, we reach customers in numerous applied for by the Villach and Finkenstein municipalities.
channels and intensify the message and advertising impact. Work is in progress at state level with regard to re-issuing
Mobile apps have also come to play a crucial role in e- the required assessment notices. Construction work is
business. In total, the company operates six apps with more expected to recommence in 2018.
than 70,000 downloads.

The challenge here is utilising these technologies in a The implementation of smart meters across the board is the
targeted manner to optimise operations and to pave the largest project for KNG-Kärnten Netz GmbH to date, and a
way for innovative products and value added services. A particular challenge in a number of ways.
group-wide team called “Digital Lab” was established to
support cross-functional digitalisation projects. Group IT KNG-Kärnten Netz GmbH continued the implementation
has a central role here with its open applications measures for the legally required smart meter rollout in the
environment and its extensive data platforms forming the financial year 2017. Important milestones of the project
technical basis for all issues addressed. were the go live of the first stage of production of the meter
data management system and the commencement of the
nationwide rollout in July 2017. Approximately 10,00 smart
meters have been installed to date. The coordination of the
assembly activities is supported through the use of
As an operator of distribution grids for electricity and
automated planning and optimisation processes with the
natural gas in Carinthia, KNG-Kärnten Netz GmbH provides
help of workforce management software. In addition,
non-discriminatory access to the grid infrastructure to all
measures for the organisational and technical business
customers and energy suppliers. The high-performance
processes for the go live of the second production phase of
grid infrastructure has to be functional around the clock,
the meter data management system for 2018 were taken
365 days a year. KNG-Kärnten Netz GmbH’s main tasks
and additional capacities for the assembly activities were
include managing operations, expanding the distribution
made available.
grids for electricity and natural gas in line with
requirements, ensuring necessary maintenance and
providing efficient repair management.
Power interruptions in 2017 included around 3,000
deployments of specialists and were marked by two major
events. At the beginning of August, severe thunderstorms
Construction of the 220/110 kV Villach Süd substation and
and bad weather in central and upper Carinthia resulted in
the associated 110 kV line connection required to secure
up to 13,000 customer systems being without electric
the future electricity supply in the Villach region was
power at the same time. On 11 December, the Fönstorm
interrupted in October 2015 as a result of a decision by the
Yves [storm in the northern Alps arriving from the south]
Austrian Higher Administrative Court
with wind speeds up to 150 km per hour caused massive