Digital transformation initiatives
The "Research, design, manufacture, and application of mobile distribution substations" initiative of Hung Yen Power Company was recognised by Vietnam Electricity Group as the Scientific and Technological Project of the Year in 2022.
The company has successfully applied this project by installing two mobile distribution substations, each with a capacity of 630kVA. These mobile substations offer several advantages over traditional substations, including easy assembly and disassembly, allowing flexibility to adapt to varying load demands, and optimising both power loss and operational costs. Once operational, each substation can continuously supply electricity to over 500 customers, with a capacity exceeding 200,000 kWh per month per substation.
During the 2020-2024 period, Hung Yen Power Company employees have been researching the application of online partial discharge (PD) measurement technology. This technology is used to diagnose the operating status of medium-voltage cables, enabling timely detection and repair of underground cable defects. The application of online PD measurement technology also provides important scientific data for affiliated units of the Northern Power Corporation to apply, effectively reducing grid incidents.
In 2023, Hung Yen Power Company introduced the initiative "Automated Software for Separating Contract Appendix Scanned Files by Customer Code". This initiative has leveraged Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to identify text content in scanned contract appendix images, uploads the PDF files to the Northern Power Corporation's server via a provided FTP account, and streamlines workflow. This innovation has improved labour productivity and shortened the time required for tasks like updating meter reading schedules while preventing errors related to incorrect PDF file naming, which previously led to mismatched records in the Customer Management Information System (CMIS).
Nguyen Duc Thong, Head of Telecommunications and Information Technology Department at Hung Yen Power Company, stated that since 2020, the company has completed 96 company-level projects, nine innovation projects, and five scientific projects recognised at the Northern Power Corporation level, along with one innovation project acknowledged by the EVN. The company has continued to advance digital transformation through applied IT research, focusing on Industry 4.0 technologies including artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing. Efforts have been also ongoing to develop effective measures for securing customer data and personal information.
Digital transformation for customer benefit
In line with the roadmap for digital transformation and smart grid modernisation, Director of Hung Yen Power Company Truong Cong Diem shared that the company has established a digital transformation steering committee and six task forces to implement planned initiatives. These initiatives align with eight key directives from the Northern Power Corporation, with an additional focus on "innovation" introduced by Hung Yen Power Company to encourage workers’ creativity and innovative thinking.
Hung Yen Power Company has actively developed and deployed specialised software that has enhanced productivity and efficiency in both business operations and customer service. Key applications include a digital signature system for testing records, a QR Code tool management system, fuel tracking for company vehicles, attendance monitoring, and the collection and standardisation of utility pole and customer information. These innovations are crucial steps toward digitalising business processes, ensuring transparency and streamlining information handling.
To enhance digital customer engagement, 100% of the company's electricity services are now available online and directly linked with the National Public Service Portal, the electronic invoicing system of the General Department of Taxation, and payment systems such as banks, e-wallets, Mobile Money, public administration centres, and provincial e-service portals. As of 2024, over 3.2 million transactions were conducted through bank and intermediary payments, achieving a 99.29% rate. All invoices are electronic, and notifications are promptly sent to customers via Zalo and SMS.
For improved accuracy in energy metering, Hung Yen Power Company has installed remote data collection systems for smart meters. As of September 2024, over 412,000 mechanical metres had been replaced with electronic meters, and automated data collection via DCU has consistently exceeded the target, covering nearly 98% of meters.
Through the Customer Service app, business owners can now monitor daily power usage and adjust consumption to optimise costs. In energy-intensive sectors like steel manufacturing, where annual consumption can reach 3-4 million kWh, companies such as Minh Ngoc Manufacturing and Trading Co., Ltd. have been able to implement significant savings. Vice Director Nguyen Anh Tuan noted that by leveraging power company consultations and advanced metering services, they adjusted their operations to shift some high-usage activities to off-peak hours, resulting in annual savings of billions in electricity costs.
To continuously improve customer satisfaction and move towards becoming a digital enterprise, Hung Yen Power Company has been enhancing its digital transformation efforts by effectively applying various software tools for technical management and operation of the power grid. These include the Electrical Grid Management Programme (GIS), Power and Grid Management Programme (PMIS), Power Grid Simulation Programme (PSS/ADEPT 5.0), and the Outage Management System (OMS), among others.
In 2024, Hung Yen Power Company successfully completed the implementation of SCADA connectivity across 100% of its 110kV transformer stations, adhering to the "no human monitoring" principle. Additionally, 38 out of 89 medium-voltage circuits and 477 switching devices (Recloser/LBS/RMU) on the medium-voltage grid have been connected to the Control Centre – Operations Department of the Company, allowing for remote monitoring and control of operational parameters and switching.
To achieve its goal of becoming a digital enterprise by 2025, Hung Yen Power Company is focusing on training, raising awareness, and developing digital business strategies for all staff. This approach aims to gradually shift mindsets, leverage the power of technology, and enhance operational efficiency in order to meet and exceed customer expectations.
