C410 (2025) Low Voltage Monitoring

NIE Networks intends to undertake a procurement process to acquire, install and manage Low Voltage (LV) monitoring devices for pole mounted and ground mounted secondary substations. LV monitoring devices will be located across NIE Networks’ infrastructure providing granular data from secondary substations to increase the visibility of low voltage distribution networks. This is critical for cost efficient LV network planning and operation in the face of rapid growth in distributed generation and flexible low carbon technologies driving more dynamic and complex power flows. LV monitors will measure voltage from busbars and current from LV feeders used to calculate other electrical features such as active, reactive, apparent power, current and voltage harmonics. These measurements will support use cases of LV monitoring data for LV network operation and LV network planning such as transformer loading and cable health assessment. Records will be periodically reported and stored in a data centre, allowing access to NIE Networks engineers for the analysis, planning and operation of the LV distribution network. NIE Networks intends to establish a framework arrangement under which it shall appoint economic operators to enter into separate framework agreements. It is anticipated that each framework agreement awarded will be for a period of five (5) years with an option, exercisable entirely at the discretion of the contracting entity and subject to the terms of the framework agreement, to extend by a further optional period of up to three (3) years, with a total potential duration of eight (8) years. NIE Networks estimates that the total spend under framework agreements could be up to £20 million over the total potential eight-year duration. This Periodic Indicative Notice is to undertake pre-market engagement only which will inform the further development of the future procurement process.