Customer experience is impacted by unscheduled power disruptions. Not only are customers’ schedules affected, but every minute of unserved power is a loss to the company. The electrical system is a network of wires and circuits traversing 6500km² across Karachi. When a fault occurs, significant effort and time is spent to physically inspect the lines, pinpoint location of fault, mobilise required teams and equipment to undertake repair work. How can we make this process more efficient, reduce time to identify and resolve faults thus reducing downtime and improving customer experience?

Enabling teams to swiftly and conveniently access fault locations is key to faster service provision. When KE staff can get to customers faster by reducing travel time spent on the road, it contributes to an overall improvement in customer satisfaction. How can we cut down on fleet travelling time and ensure swifter power restoration for our customers?

We want to build trust in our communications by giving customers visibility around their power status. How can we proactively communicate power maintenance shutdown schedules and estimated restoration timelines and enable our customers to plan accordingly?

Customer experience can be significantly improved with reduced power disruptions due to faults. Propose innovative solutions (backed by Internet of Things (IoT)/Machine Learning /Artificial Intelligence) for either:

• Reduction of rain-related faults in 220v distribution network
• Quick fix/reduction of underground fault
• Reducing faults in Extra High Tension (EHT) network

Cable TV and internet providers use KE’s electricity line infrastructure unlawfully to provide internet and other cable services. This intrusion on KE’s infrastructure poses a safety threat and has the potential to interfere with the sanctity of the system. Moreover, it can cause power outages and other safety related shutdowns causing inconvenience to the customers. Propose a technically feasible solution for the co-existence of the two services on the same infrastructure which is both viable and safe.

Demand for utilities varies with weather and temperature changes and experiences seasonal peaks and troughs. Visibility of projected power demand would result in better planning across the value chain, ensuring resource availability in line with the customer’s needs. How can we automate the predictive demand planning process based on present and historic power demand and climate data?

KE currently uses a large-sized vehicle, with provision for a 14-to-16-foot ladder, for fault rectification and maintenance. To bring cost and resource efficiency, propose an optimal design for a compact vehicle with allowance for an expandable ladder, which is both smaller in size and efficient in space and fuel utilization.  

KE’s network inspection teams spend considerable time physically inspecting wires for temperature, flow, and infrastructure health. Similarly, KE’s grid stations are manned by teams who monitor the live system parameters (current, voltage, power, power factor etc.) and maintain documentation. How can these processes be automated, allowing remote monitoring and real-time decision-making?

Thousands of digital/analogue meters must be read on a daily basis in order to ensure accurate and timely billing. While smart-metering solutions exist, their cost is a constraint in their widespread deployment. How can we automate the meter-reading process in a cost-effective manner?

Utility-scale PV plants require huge installation areas and their integration with other activities represent a valuable opportunity for optimizing land-use, enhancing the ecosystem, and creating benefit for the surrounding territories & communities, all the while generating value for the business itself. Design an environmentally sustainable model along with financial and technical feasibility for the use of idle land with utility scale solar.