Case Study: Unison Networks improves power grid performance and safety with Microsoft Azure

Unison Networks: Data from smart sensors improves performance and safety of power grid

Unison Networks, an electricity and fiber optic utility in New Zealand, faced significant challenges in managing its fleet of over 10,000 distribution transformers due to a complete lack of real-time performance and condition visibility. This blind spot risked causing power outages, inefficient asset use, and slow response times for its 110,000 customers. To address this, they partnered with Microsoft to leverage the Microsoft Azure cloud platform as the foundation for a new solution.

The solution involved developing ETELligent software on Microsoft Azure to analyze real-time data from smart sensors on every transformer. The Microsoft Azure platform provided the sophisticated algorithms, scalable analytics, and a centralized data hub necessary to enable predictive maintenance, improve decision-making speed, and drive significant cost savings. This has allowed Unison to prevent failures, optimize its maintenance resources, and create a blueprint for future intelligent asset management.

Unison Networks

Jaun Park

General Manager of Network and Operations