EDF Energy Networks has announced the partners who will help the company deliver more than £2billion of improvements to its electricity distribution networks throughout London, the South East and the East of England.
The company, and its selected contractors, will carry out investment and upgrade work across the company’s 70,000 substations, 110,000km of overhead power lines and 125,000km of underground cables.
The second phase of contracts, working on overhead power lines, will include the Freedom Group of Companies and Morgan Est staff working in integrated delivery teams with EDF Energy Networks using the New Engineering Contracts (NEC).
Partners in other areas of work – major underground cable laying and improvements to the major overhead tower lines – will be announced shortly.
Barry Hatton, Director of Capital Programme, EDF Energy Networks, said: “We are entering an exciting time in the delivery of the capital programme where we have to significantly increase the amount of work we deliver, improve the efficiency of delivery and the way we work together.
“In order to fulfil these requirements, we have formed these new alliances with contractors to help deliver this work. I do believe that ultimately we will create a better place to work and will help EDF Energy meet its objectives to be the best distribution network operator and a respected point of reference.”
There will be changes in working practices for some EDF Energy Networks staff, with management structures and hours, for example, reviewed as part of the new partnerships.
EDF Energy Networks believes the long-term partnerships will remove the extra financial cost of awarding contracts on an ad hoc basis and gives the other companies involved a greater commitment to the levels of work, such that they can invest in training staff, for example, and keep on workers after a project is finished.
EDF Energy Networks staff, affected by the new way of working are being consulted about the changes in a series of letters and meetings. Unions have been involved in the new structures from the start of planning.
