Peter Billing 

Chief Operating Officer
Ergon Energy Corporation Limited


"I refer to your request for a description of the relationship between Ergon Energy and the Sydney Consulting Corporation in the context of the Depot 3PR project.

Ergon Energy is a customer-driven business aiming to minimise cost impacts on our customers, operate as efficiently as an essential service provider, as well as respond effectively to our safety and climate change imperatives. As part of our 'Get Fit' program to improve business efficiency, we recognised potential value in taking independent advice to review our key works delivery processes and incorporate contemporary best practice in our process improvements.

Through a competitive process, Ergon Energy engaged Sydney Consulting Corporation to perform a depot based analysis. The analysis was focused on elimination of duplication of effort, enabling a more appropriate supervisory time allocation, improving efficiency, utilisation and improving management rigour.

In October 2008 this work was extended to undertake a multi-phase project which requires -
1. delivering real measurable results;
2. working side by side with supervisors and managers in their workplace to implement change;
and
3. implementing change that is sustainable.

The project team, comprising both SCC and Ergon Energy resources, faces the particular challenge of improving the consistency and visibility of the operational work planning and scheduling across Ergon Energy's distribution business. Already improvements have been identified and implemented which have increased utilisation and productivity.

While the project is s t i l l in the foundation stages, we expect additional benefits will accrue with further phases, and with the maturing of new processes, so that ultimately enduring long-term benefits will be realised for Ergon Energy and our customers."