Electricity Distribution Price Review FY2027 to FY2031

This document is a business case for Technology Asset Management (TAM) focused on infrastructure for the Electricity Distribution Price Review (EDPR) covering the fiscal years 2027 to 2031. It outlines the necessity of ICT infrastructure, including compute servers, storage servers, telecommunications, and end-user devices, which are essential for operating AusNet’s technology systems and applications. The document details the strategy for the 2027-31 period, emphasizing the need to balance on-premise and cloud infrastructure to ensure efficient operation of network assets. It presents two options for recurrent capital expenditure: one involving risk management by operating infrastructure beyond vendor support, and another recommending lifecycle refreshes of infrastructure. The latter option is preferred due to lower associated risks. The proposed recurrent expenditure is estimated at $29.6 million, aimed at replacing aging hardware and enhancing data center efficiency. The document also discusses the historical performance and evolution of ICT infrastructure management at AusNet.