Empired Limited has secured two new contracts with Western Power to provide digital services for up to seven years.

Collectively the contracts have an estimated value of $61m over the initial five year term.

An infrastructure managed services contract, with an estimated value of $31m over five years will see Empired provide end user computing services to more than 3300 Western Power staff and contractors, provide 24x7 service management leveraging Empired's service desk and national operations centres, manage all data centers and cloud operations, plus manage more than 2000 network devices across 30 sites. Transition of these services will commence immediately and is expected to be completed by early August 2020.

In addition, Empired has been awarded a preferred master IT supply contract with an estimated value of $30m over five years for the provision of a technology enhancement programme in support of the managed services scope.

The technology enhancement programme will see Empired continue to evolve core backend services to cloud and digital platforms. Empired has partnered with HCL Technologies to provide leveraged offshore resourcing and access to intellectual property in the energy and power distribution markets.

“Empired is very proud to have been selected to partner with Western Power to deliver modern managed services across all of Western Power's end user computing and core IT and operational technology infrastructure requirements," says Russell Baskerville, managing director, Empired.

“Western Power operates the majority of power distribution in Western Australia. It is a privilege and testament to Empired's capability to be trusted by Western Power to manage systems that are critical to the safe and reliable distribution of power to Western Australia," he says.

Andrew Smith, chief information officer at Western Power, adds, “Empired's solution provided a modern approach to managed services, incorporating continuous innovation, the use of artificial intelligence operations, a state-of-the-art operations centre, and access to global IP and thought leadership through the HCL partnership.

"We are confident this will let Western Power drive improved efficiency and productivity while ensuring digital platforms are optimised to provide improved services to all stakeholders," he says.

“The energy market is a rapidly changing landscape. With customers' energy needs evolving, Western Power's focus is always firmly on the future and we look forward to working with Empired through this journey.

Baskerville says, “While we navigate an uncertain economic climate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Empired's focus is on delivering on its commitments to Western Power.

"This contract win is testament to Empired's extensive capability and its ability to compete and win against the largest Australian and International competitors," he says.