Abstract

Today’s societal development imposes several challenges for distribution system operators (DSOs) due to increasing electrification, implementation of modern technologies and aging infrastructure. Simultaneously, operators are expected to provide a continuous and stable supply of electricity to end-users at every given moment. In order to face these challenges and ensure the electricity supply upon which society depends, data-driven and risk-based maintenance approaches have recently gained traction. This study’s purpose is to investigate the potential for maintenance management support tools in heterogeneous infrastructural systems. More specifically, the study attempts to assess the suitability of data-driven and risk-based approaches for Swedish DSOs and how specific asset characteristics together with operator experience influence maintenance needs. This is done by analyzing switchgear assets in a multi-case study of 7 DSOs and by using Great Britain’s framework, the Common Network Asset Indices Methodology (CNAIM), as a reference point.

The empirical findings identified tacit knowledge as one main driver for maintenance decisio-making. Although the analyzed DSOs have implemented risk-based factors in their maintenance decision-making, this is done without a formal risk-based framework. Rather, network operators rely on tacit knowledge acquired through informal channels. The results indicate that age by itself is an insufficient variable for maintenance since more factors, such as operational conditions, local environments and asset technology also play a vital role in determining an asset’s health. The results also show that organizational factors served as obstacles for the implementation of more technologically advanced maintenance supporting tools. Data-scarcity and quality as well as fragmented information systems or financial resources were identified as the most prominent obstacles, although their severity depends on DSO size.

On one hand, risk-based methodologies such as CNAIM are theoretically applicable for DSOs in Sweden since risk-based logic is already established in maintenance today. On the other hand, a successful implementation of such a risk-based framework requires taking organizational heterogeneity into consideration as different DSOs face different limitations.