S1119 (2022) Electronic Keypad Cards

Northern Ireland Electricity Networks Limited (NIE Networks) is the electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and Transmission Network Owner in Northern Ireland. NIE Networks are responsible for the supply and delivery of keypad plastic cards for keypad meter customers in Northern Ireland. There are approximately 374,000 keypad customers at present. Keypad plastic cards enable keypad customers to purchase prepaid credits for their keypad electricity metes from a variety of retail outlets. Currently there are 6 Electricity Suppliers that NIE Networks manage the supply and delivery of keypad plastic cards for on behalf of their keypad customers. Each customer has their own unique reference number (8-digit premise number) and each Electricity Supplier has their own unique reference number (8-digit number). This array of numbers (Customer premise number and Supplier reference number) is printed on each keypad plastic card as this card is presented to a Retail outlet to purchase credits. Retail agents use these numbers to generate a voucher with a code that is entered into the customers keypad meter to add credits for electricity. NIE Networks will continue to retain the process of requesting keypad plastic cards to be supplied and posted to customers via a third party, however we would like to explore what digital options would be available for a virtual card or application-based solution to reduce the volume of plastic cards being printed. We are keen to explore if there would be options of a choice for keypad customers to choose either the physical card or an alternative digital option and how this would embed with the current processes and systems. The objective is for NIE Networks to get an understanding of what options exist for this. NIE Networks would like to invite interested suppliers to separate market engagement meetings to demonstrate the recent advances in this area and how NIE could benefit from them. This information will be used to add to the procurement strategy. The information will be retained by NIE and treated as confidential. Suppliers should register their interest via EsourcingNI by 29th September 2021, providing the names of who will attend. In order to maintain a suitable list of suppliers please also provide a short description of your experience in this area. NIE will shortlist attendees on the basis of direct relevant experience in this area. In addition, in the event of the required being over subscribed NIE Networks may restrict the total number of attendees to the first 6 suppliers who demonstrate direct relevant experience. Project S1119(2021) has been created on eSourcingNI; where parties can register their interest to attend and give a presentation. It is anticipated the presentations will take place on 12th and 13th October 2021. The only way to register is via the secure messaging function in the project, by providing no more than 4 names of representatives from your organisation who will attend and a brief description of your direct relevant experience.