Environment
Performance summary 2020/2021
Overview of outputs
19Improve by 20% the time taken to provide a response to customers who want to use LCTs.(See note 1 below)We are receiving increased volumes of notifications which we are addressing quickly, but the high volumes of enquiries mean that we have not been able to improve our response times.
20Identify LCT hotspots using information from smart meters, expert organisations and local authorities, and use this information when making decisions.The development of the “Network Investment Forecast Tool” has enabled us to add predicted LCTs to our LV network and highlight areas of LV cable or transformers that will reach capacity. This list of assets has become the basis for the new LCT Hotspot listing.
21Selectively replace assets using larger assets in areas where more LCTs may be connected to our network.We carried out 36 asset replacement projects using larger assets, as a result of using information about LCT hotspots.
22Reduce costs for future customers by developing smart solutions to provide alternative and innovative techniques for managing our network.We had a wide range of innovation projects in progress during the year.
23Provide additional network capacity by using traditional or smart methods.We have continued to develop the Flexible Power brand and increased the number of substations utilising flexibility from 122 in 2019/20 to 270 in 2020/21.
Overview of outputs
24Install oversized transformers when replacing assets in areas where demand for power may become higher than equipment can cope with.We installed 22 oversized transformers.
25Use larger cables when installing new network in LCT hotspots.We installed 1.99km of larger cable in LCT hotspots.
Overview of outputs
33Replace 55km of overhead lines in National Parks and AONBs with underground cables.(See note 1 below)To date during RIIO-ED1, we have replaced 32.7 km of overhead lines with underground cables for visual amenity in AONBs.
Overview of outputs
26Make sure all replacement vehicles have lower CO2 emissions than those they are replacing.WPD operational vehicle emissions have reduced by 23% compared to 2019/20, some of which will be due to reduced use of contractors during the Covid-19 pandemic.
27Make sure all new or substantially refurbished buildings meet, as a minimum, the excellent standard under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).(See note 2 below)During 2020/21 we have not completed any depot construction. We are in the final stages of applying for certification for refurbishment works at one site.
28Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 20% over the first two years of RIIO-ED1 and 5% per year after this.We have seen a reduction in the amount of waste sent to landfill, and we have achieved our target for the whole of RIIO-ED1.
29Reduce our carbon footprint by 5%.(See note 1 below)Our business carbon footprint has reduced by 34% compared with 2012/13. We have beaten our in-year target.
Overview of outputs
30Reduce by 75% the amount of oil lost through leaks from oil-filled cables.(See note 1 below)The leak volume from oil-filled cables has continued to decrease. We have beaten our in-year target.
31Reduce by 17% the amount of SF6 gas that is lost from switchgear.(See note 1 below)The amount of SF6 gas lost as a percentage of the total amount of SF6 used on our network has reduced from 0.47% in 2015/16 to 0.11% in 2020/21 for the whole of our area.
32Install effective oil containment 'bunds' around plant containing high volumes of oil.*(See note 1 below)We have completed work on 229 new and refurbished bunds so far in RIIO-ED1, going further than our forecast of 104 bunds.
Note 1: This target is for the full eight-year RIIO-ED1 period, not for each separate year.
Note 2: This target is for each year of RIIO-ED1.