Surveys and Remediations – Islands Energy Group
Islands Energy Group is made up of three businesses based in the beautiful islands of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. As the islands’ sole gas utility provider, this is a unique and challenging landscape from which to operate. Although a relatively small footprint, the needs of domestic, commercial and industrial customers across the islands create a disparate supply portfolio – from historic buildings using traditional gas heating, to innovative industry now seeking alternatives such as Bio LPG and carbon-neutral alternatives. A specific challenge for IEG is the maintenance of its assets – a continuous and exacting programme made complex by the presence of legacy assets across a diverse, island-based environment.
Project overview
QEM Solutions were requested by the Islands Energy Group to assist with the survey of current and legacy assets in Guernsey and Jersey as part of IEG’s planned programme of improvements and Asset Maintenance regime. But in addition to that, QEM was, by association with IEG, being entrusted with the care of a long-established gas supply presence on both these islands, entrusted with existing consumer relations, and entrusted with safe and ethical working that demonstrates fundamental respect for this environment.
Our solution
QEM carried out an initial inspection on assets that potentially required decommissioning. The focus was on services without meters, and services that still have meters fitted that have been ‘blanked’, to identify a set of minimum assessment criteria. These criteria included the condition of the asset, its operational status, the identification of risks associated with it, any remedial measures required, as well as carrying out a Gas Survey Safety Sweep to ensure no leaks were located in and around the property. In addition, where an asset required isolation by means of a service cut off, QEM decided the potential means, e.g., whether to isolate by inline insertion, isolation on the main, or through the mains replacement programme.
QEM’s primary objectives were:
- To provide an accurate representation to IEG of their asset portfolio.
- To collect sufficient asset and stakeholder information to enable the planning of future works where required.
- To validate the suitability of the assets installed.
- To ensure all properties identified have a Gas Survey Safety Sweep carried out.
- To facilitate safe and effective isolations through insertion methods where possible.
- To facilitate safe and effective isolations as close to the main as practicable.
To do this effectively, the project was segregated into three distinct workstreams:
- Survey and asset data collection
- Civils and reinstatement (carried out by third-party providers)
- Service Isolations
Outcome and results
The survey and data collection phase of the project demanded transparent communication between a number of key stakeholders, not least in communication and liaison with the Jersey Government, Parish Police departments and end users to gain access to properties as required.
Both meticulous planning and ad-hoc agility were essential requirements to maintain effective progress, coordinating access with surveyor allocation, permitry and the follow-up actions required. Follow-up actions also presented potential complexity, from isolation, to inclusion into the mains replacement programme. QEM’s priority here was regular reporting to IEG to provide clarity of recommended actions within specific time constraints. This, in turn, supports IEG in providing a continuous gas supply to its consumers, and nurtures positive relationships with existing customers.
Regular reporting and transparency have been a central focus for QEM on delivering this project, to encourage and drive collaboration. Establishing such a relationship with IEG ensured effective and timely budget allocation, as well as supporting communications management within the IEG Group.
This drive for openness and responsibility has been demonstrated in QEM’s weekly management information submissions, as well as one-to-ones with IEG project leads. Monthly progress meetings have undertaken a thorough review of QEM’s service, and examined lessons learned from all activity. Within its own team, QEM has undertaken performance review and feedback on all operatives and carried out Internal Quality Assurance Assessments on all its surveyors, too.
The success of this project is much more than just the number of assets surveyed, reported, and remediated. Its success lies in being counted by IEG as a trusted partner in the service of the islands’ consumers, and as custodians of this unique working landscape.
Here to achieve, validate and demonstrate compliance
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