ESBI Computing make it easier than ever to grant free electricity allowances.

July 2002

Recent legislative changes have meant that the number of people now eligible for free electricity allowances (FEA) has increased significantly. The existing process for implementing and administrating FEAs for ESB customers on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) was no longer adequate. A new solution was required.

ESBI Computing worked closely with ESB Customer Supply and the DSFA to fully understand all aspects of the new situation. A solution was designed and delivered that provided direct on-line access and functionality to DSFA staff, that protected the security and integrity of ESB data and that utilised existing legacy system components.

The resulting Extranet solution allows DSFA staff to grant a FEA to any eligible ESB customer. They can log on from any Internet enabled PC, whether it be a laptop, home or office computer. As a security precaution any computer used to access the application must first be granted a digital certificate from ESB IT Security before this access is granted. The Extranet solution significantly reduces the number of update transactions that have to be done by ESB staff by allowing DSFA staff to do the updates directly. At present there are in the region of 50 DSFA staff logging on, from their offices in Sligo, on a regular basis.

According to Aidan Byrne, Customer Supply Project Manager:

'Customer Supply are particularly delighted with the Extranet Applications which were developed by ESBI Computing to handle our data links on Free Electricity Allowances with DSFA. The applications have been very well received by the Department who can now verify applicants' names through a link to specific ESB systems. In addition they can process retrospective applications of allowances and apply credit adjustments to customers' bills. Almost 10,000 credit adjustments have been successfully processed this year. The Extranet solutions have delivered significant savings to our Billing operation as these adjustments had previously been received on paper from the Department and processed on-line by ESB staff. Overall it is a much more efficient and modern way of conducting business and a good example of how we can use technology to achieve efficiencies in ESB, give better customer service and facilitate a government department. I think that this is the first use of Extranet technology to allow access to ESB systems and we are delighted to have been associated with its successful implementation."

With these technology tools and skills, ESBI Computing can deliver fresh solutions to business challenges by putting new front-ends onto any existing mainframe transaction components, allowing users to have a modern, web user interface on an existing legacy system. Any screens within the legacy system can be given a 'facelift' and web-enabled quickly and efficiently. In this way old mainframe screens can retain their functionality while acquiring all the benefits of the web, with regard to presentation, access and usability. The DSFA Extranet solution has been an unqualified success since it first went live.

More Information :
Ciaran MacDiarmada, Manager Web & E-Business, ESBI Computing
Ciaran.macdiarmada@mail.esb.ie
+353-1-7038140