Abstract
The increasing reliance on networked cyber-physical systems (CPS) in the energy sector has introduced new challenges and opportunities for the resilience of utility-based business models. One of these, the challenge to the resiliency of the business, is the realisation of low-probability, high-impact events, like cyber-attacks, pandemics and financial crises. Current research focuses on the grid itself as the engineered system of interest and not the business, and the engineered enterprise system that manages the grid. This research focused on this gap of resilience at the enterprise level and proposed a framework for assessing the resilience of networked cyber-physical energy utility-based business models involved in electrical energy supply. The framework combined qualitative and quantitative methods, based on the exploratory sequential mixed methodology. It employed scientometrics, knowledge organisation systems, object-oriented systems engineering, systems identification, and theories of the firm techniques that aid in the assessment. The result was a framework, more aptly a Thesaurus that identified seven major qualitative concepts that can be used across multiple engineering fields in assessing the resilience of such utility business models. Storm Desmond was the case study to explain resilience of a power station affected with this adversity in the United Kingdom. One component of the Thesaurus captures the quantitative measures for resilience using factors of production relevant to such business models. Using seven-year data from Eskom, the research quantitatively assessed the company’s resilience given a catastrophic event employing systems identification. The results of this research are then presented and discussed.