2009-09-03 - ABB and ETSA Utilities increase productivity and break new ground with the signing of the first Master Agreement (MA01) for the supply of power technology products.
The five year agreement, which took six months to establish, brings benefits to ETSA Utilities with reductions in procurement negotiation cycle times and associated costs.
The new agreement has already started delivering results. ABB recently supplied ETSA Utilities with two Safelink ring main units that utilise the latest technology to provide a very safe and compact switchgear solution. The equipment was supplied from the fully accredited IS09001 (quality) and ISO14001 (environment) Moorebank facility in NSW. ABB has also received a supply order for the ongoing removal of oil circuit breakers and retrofitting with ABB vacuum circuit breakers.
”With electrical network infrastructure valued at approximately $2.7 billion, supply agreements are not new here at ETSA Utilities,” said Lew Owens, CEO of ETSA Utilities. “However, the MA01 agreement signed with ABB sets a new benchmark for our organisation as it defines a long-term relationship that we can extract real value from. By working closely with ABB, we can take the cost down in supply chain performance whilst maintaining our high standards, which will transfer directly to our bottom line and present benefits year after year.”
John Gaskell, CEO of ABB Australia added, “This agreement underscores ABB’s commitment to providing the leading-edge technologies our customers need to be successful in today’s challenging environment. With the relationship framework firmly established, our focus is now set on assisting ETSA Utilities in expanding their operations while improving their overall productivity and energy efficiency.”
Due to increased power demand and despite the global financial crisis, ETSA Utilities announced that it expects an increase in the number of new projects over the next decade to grow and rejuvenate South Australia’s electricity distribution network.
Serving more than 803,000 customers, ETSA Utilities are the fifth largest distributor in the Australian National Electricity Market and employ approximately 1,800 people.