Enhancing IT Governance and Portfolio Delivery for a Leading European Energy Regulator
Overview.
A prominent European energy regulator grappled with fragmented oversight and limited visibility across its £500M annual IT transformation portfolio. Coforge partnered with the organization to conduct a rigorous diagnostic assessment, reviewing 1,000+ documents, facilitating 90+ hours of workshops, and producing a 400-page detailed report with 151 prioritized recommendations.
The energy regulator was responsible for overseeing critical IT investment programs during the RIIO-2 price control period (2021–26). However, they faced mounting challenges in ensuring these programs delivered value for money and adhered to governance and performance expectations. With 32 concurrent investment projects and a sprawling portfolio exceeding £500M annually, the client needed a consultative partner capable of conducting a deep assessment of their Cost Monitoring Framework and delivery practices—one with a strong foundation in technology governance and enterprise transformation.
Solution.
Coforge comprehensively assessed over 30 ESO IT programs using Lean, Six Sigma, and CMMI-based methodologies. Key elements of the approach included:
Optimized Diagnostic Framework: Introduced a multi-dimensional scoring model replacing RAG ratings, enhancing diagnostic depth while preserving proven elements from the existing methodology.
Stakeholder-Centric Engagement: Embedded an iterative feedback loop with OFGEM and ESO, ensuring alignment of recommendations with strategic goals and performance expectations.
Data-Driven Insights: Applied root cause analysis and thematic clustering to classify over 151 findings into actionable priorities.
Structured Governance Enhancement: Leveraged the 7S Framework to recommend a scalable and resilient IT governance model focused on value realization and digital maturity.
The Impact.
Strategic Clarity & Confidence: OFGEM gained enhanced visibility into ESO’s IT maturity, improving confidence in their delivery approach.
Optimized Portfolio Delivery: Recommendations led to improved alignment with best practices, enabling greater scalability and delivery efficiency.
Enhanced Governance & Value: The regulator strengthened its governance framework, achieving better investment outcomes and increased value realization.
Long-Term Digital Resilience: The engagement positioned ESO for future-facing, resilient digital operations across the energy value chain.
