Understanding the opportunities of data and technology
Our focus areas
Why it matters
With the rapid growth of AI and the increasing demand for data, coupled with the continuing trend towards digitalisation, it is vital that we understand how to unlock the potential for data and technology to benefit our customers. Through ongoing engagement and research, we are exploring how emerging tools and services can meet evolving needs and drive greater efficiency.
Engaging with customers, we identified the following priorities which have shaped our focus across data and technology this year:
- Helping customers connect faster and at lower cost by going beyond mass publishing of data to focus on releasing high value data sets
- Supporting the needs and decarbonisation goals of emerging customer segments
- Further enhancing the accuracy, maturity, and reliability of our data tools.
Key outcomes delivered in 2024/25
- Launched The Connections Lab, a digital tool developed in-house that allows connections developers to cut the cost and time of optioneering, which has already saved £2.84 million in connections applications
- Released 12 new DSO datasets, including data centre utilisation and profiles, which support developers and local authorities in planning for future power needs and data centre impacts
- Used smart meters as network sensors, resulting in near 100% visibility of the secondary substation network and unlocking grid-edge services, such as flexibility services for customers.
Why it matters
With the rapid growth of AI and the increasing demand for data, coupled with the continuing trend towards digitalisation, it is vital that we understand how to unlock the potential for data and technology to benefit our customers. Through ongoing engagement and research, we are exploring how emerging tools and services can meet evolving needs and drive greater efficiency.
Engaging with customers, we identified the following priorities which have shaped our focus across data and technology this year:
- Helping customers connect faster and at lower cost by going beyond mass publishing of data to focus on releasing high value data sets
- Supporting the needs and decarbonisation goals of emerging customer segments
- Further enhancing the accuracy, maturity, and reliability of our data tools.
Key outcomes delivered in 2024/25
- Launched The Connections Lab, a digital tool developed in-house that allows connections developers to cut the cost and time of optioneering, which has already saved £2.84 million in connections applications
- Released 12 new DSO datasets, including data centre utilisation and profiles, which support developers and local authorities in planning for future power needs and data centre impacts
- Used smart meters as network sensors, resulting in near 100% visibility of the secondary substation network and unlocking grid-edge services, such as flexibility services for customers.
Featured case studies
case study
Enhancements to data and tools to inform connections decisions
case study
Driving industry improvements
