EDSO welcomes the annual consultation of the European Commission on the establishment of the annual priority lists for the development of network codes and guidelines for 2017 and beyond. Over the last five years, EDSO has deployed considerable efforts to contribute to the development of the network codes & guidelines. By providing input & feedback on documents or consultations, participating in meetings & workshops, and more recently contributing to the activities of European Stakeholder Committees, EDSO has taken an active part in this process and is satisfied that the attention paid to considerations raised by DSOs has gradually improved throughout the last years. EDSO recognises that a substantial move toward the completion of this process was achieved in 2016 with the adoption of a majority of network codes and guidelines. However, it should be underlined that some of the most controversial rules are still to be finalised. At the same time, the rules that have already been adopted should be carefully implemented at the national level. Finally, lessons from this long and complex process should be drawn before envisaging the way forward at European level.

The work of the five associations (EDSO, CEDEC, ENTSO-E, EURELECTRIC and GEODE) in the field of TSO-DSO cooperation culminated with the publication of their common TSO/DSO data management report. The report serves to provide input to the European Commission’s forthcoming market design and renewables package. The document aims in particular at sharing recommendations on common European principles and criteria for data and information exchanges. This will help preparing the much-needed cooperation between TSOs and DSOs in the face of new challenges and developments including the prominent role of customers in the energy transition, the need for flexibility in balancing and congestion management, as well as in stepping up efforts of coordination between TSOs and DSOs.

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) have to reinforce and expand their networks in order to maintain security of supply and quality of service. Many technical options could be envisaged for that purpose, including traditional investment in cables and transformers, using consumers’ flexibility or improving network monitoring and control. In this new paper, EDSO call policy makers to fix the current regulatory uncertainty and to widen the range of technologies available to DSO in order to improve the power grid management and deliver better services to all consumers.

DSOs fully recognise the usefulness of seeking to increase the international market-capacity between European countries, without lowering security of supply. The Common Grid Model Methodology (CGMM) and the Generation and Load Data Provision Methodology (CGLDPM) are two essential elements of the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM) network code. Nevertheless, Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are surprised by the extensive scope of the foreseen methodology, and concerned by the licence TSOs intend to grant themselves for collecting data from grid users and other system operators. This joint response issued by Cedec, EDSO, Eurelectric and Geode lists the DSOs' main concerns and suggestions.

EDSO welcomes this publication from the European Commission (EC) on the preparation of a new renewable energy directive for the period after 2020. The current directive has fueled renewable growth and its recast should pave the way for a decarbonised energy future and limit the current regulatory uncertainty. Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are facilitating the transformation of the power system, by connecting most of the renewable energy sources (RES) to the grid. This role will become even more important as RES are expected to grow due to a combination of support schemes and declining technology price.

EDSO welcomes this public consultation in preparation for the revision of the ‘Energy Efficiency Directive’. In its response, EDSO focuses on the questions related to metering and billing (articles 9 to 11). In addition, make the following recommendations to the European Commission: avoid creating uncertainty for smart meter deployment; clarify the definition of “energy distributor”; enable DSOs to use system services.

EDSO has issued a position paper which posits a vision for a ‘Digital DSO,’ capturing the key messages of its recent responses to the European Commission's DG CONNECT consultations. The paper starts by identifying the digital trends facing DSOs. It then explains how its members are increasingly deploying digital technologies and data solutions associated with these trends to improve their business performance and customer service. Finally, it outlines the regulatory environment necessary to enable the development of digital DSOs.

EDSO has issued a technology specification for the minimum functional requirements for Smart Secondary Substations Lite. The purpose of this document is to provide technology suppliers with insights into the minimum functionalities of secondary substations and with direction for their R&D in order to design products that meet the needs of the DSOs in Europe. This document is a first step in starting a dialogue between DSOs and their technology suppliers.

EDSO has issued a position paper highlighting the need for distribution network tariff-setting to be adapted to the increasing integration of distributed renewable energy sources (DRES) and to the transition toward a more decentralised energy system. Within EDSO urges national regulatory authorities to consider a set of complementary recommendations when designing network tariffs for distribution system operators.

The European Distribution System Operators for Smart Grids (EDSO) welcomes the European Commission’s (EC) public consultation on security of electricity supply. Security of supply is a pillar of the European energy policy that DSOs have been entrusted to preserve and in which they play an important role. In this context, EDSO formulates four key policy recommendations for the European Commission and other policy makers.