| EDF Energy powers up using Tensor | Tue 8th January 2008 |
EDF Energy are major generators of electricity within the UK using both traditional power stations and wind generation. The two power stations at Cottam and West Burton are both 2,000MW coal-fired power stations with a combined production capacity of up to 10% of the UK market. The total area of the sites extends over 800 acres, on the west bank of the River Trent. They are manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In 2000, the then Business Services Manager, Bob Kilford, wanted to install an automatic employee and contractor emergency roll call reporting system. He also wanted the same system to perform employee time recording for the 1,000 plus staff. It was essential this system meet the requirements of the European Working Time directive.
Bob reviewed systems and equipment from three companies and chose Tensor because of the flexibility and ease-of-use of Tensor's Smart Cards and software. “The quick set-up allowed an easy and fast way to account for all members of permanent staff, contractors and visitors” he said.
Tensor installed an Ethernet Smart Card based WinTA Enterprise Time & Attendance and Integrated Security System in Cottam power station in December 2002. This comprised WinBadge, WinTA Pass, WinTA Access and WinTA Enterprise Software, including automatic Door Monitoring and Fire Roll Call monitoring. Further physical Access Control comprising two turnstiles, a sliding gate and 5 traffic barriers were added in October 2003. The Integrated Security System now covers the entire site and comprises hundreds of pieces of hardware and the latest security software.
At West Burton Tensor installed the original Ethernet Smart Card based WinTA Enterprise Time & Attendance and Integrated Security System in November 2002, which had a similar set up to Cottam. This site is now incorporated within the same Integrated Security System that covers the Cottam and West Burton sites.
There were no major problems with the installation of either the software or the hardware.
Six staff were originally trained at Tensor's Hail Weston training centre in the use of the various elements of the Integrated Security System. “Training was excellent covering installation and all aspects about the WinTA software ” explained Keith Cuckson, of Business Services.
“We use Tensor to it's full capability linking cardholders personnel records from the Tensor Personnel system so that those wanting to gain access to the site have relevant Health & Safety and Training courses recorded and subsequently checked to ensure they are still in date” said Keith to the Tensor reporter, as he described their security and health & safety operation.
What Keith likes most about the Tensor system is the ease-of-use to set up new employee profiles, working patterns and configuring the system to his site structure. “Tensor is easy for employees to use; our environment is quite dirty and the Tensor Smart Cards have proven reliable and robust” explained Keith.
EDF Energy also use Tensor's Personnel software. “The good thing about the system is the report generator as it allows us to generate our own customized reports” they said.
“Very good, staff are knowledgeable and have resolved the issues quickly” was how EDF Energy described the Tensor Helpdesk and “Very professional” was their description of Tensor's Operations and Maintenance department.
EFD said they would continue to expand the Tensor system with additional clocks and Smart Card readers controlling access to areas around their sites.
“The benefit of Tensor is the ease of seeing who is on site and where they are” was what Keith liked most about his Integrated Security System and he said he “Would readily recommend Tensor to other companies”.
In conclusion Keith said “The Tensor system has been working well here for 5 years, the hardware and software stands up really well. Tensor offers good quality with a reliable service. We have very few problems with the system”.
Customer Information
The Energy Branch of EDF Energy is in a real sense the physical power behind EDF Energy. They run the company's power stations and wind generation, and they buy and sell power as well as purchasing gas and coal on the wholesale markets to fulfil the needs of our generating plants and their Customers Branch.
EDF Energy
40 Grosvenor Place,
Victoria,
London
SW1X 7EN.
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7242 9050
E-mail: info@edfenergy.com
Website: www.edfenergy.com